title: Toxoplasma gondii infection in schizophrenia and associated clinical features.
abstract: The belief that latent toxoplasmosis is asymptomatic has been questioned, in particular due to the repeated highlighted link between the Toxoplasma gondii infection and an increased incidence of schizophrenia. However, to understand this relationship, the effect of infection with Toxoplasma gondii on the severity of schizophrenia has been poorly studied. Our work focused on comparing the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls, as well as comparing the clinical features and the demographic characteristics between Toxoplasma-seronegative and Toxoplasma-seropositive patients with schizophrenia. The rate of IgG antibody in the schizophrenia patients was 74.8% compared 53.8% in controls. Patients with schizophrenia had a significantly higher mean of serum IgG antibodies to T. gondii compared to controls. The seropositive male patients had a higher age of disease onset, a higher BPRS score, a greater negative PANSS score and a lower GAF score than the seronegative male patients. These results suggest a higher severity of clinical symptoms in the male patients with schizophrenia. This study provides further evidence to the hypothesis that exposure to Toxoplasma may be a risk factor for schizophrenia. Moreover, toxoplasmosis in men with schizophrenia may lead to more severe negative and cognitive symptoms and a less favorable course of schizophrenia.
authors: Laboratoire de génétique, biodiversité et valorisation des bioressources (LGVB) LR11ES41, Institut supérieur de biotechnologie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ruhr University Bochum LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstr., 144791 Bochum, Germany.
authors: Awatef
authors: A
authors: Esshili
authors: Laboratoire de génétique, biodiversité et valorisation des bioressources (LGVB) LR11ES41, Institut supérieur de biotechnologie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Sihem
authors: S
authors: Thabet
authors: Laboratoire de génétique, biodiversité et valorisation des bioressources (LGVB) LR11ES41, Institut supérieur de biotechnologie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Achraf
authors: A
authors: Jemli
authors: Département de biostatistiques, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir, 5000 Université de Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Trifa
authors: Laboratoire de vulnérabilité aux psychoses LR10ES05 et Service de psychiatrie Centre Hospitalier Universitaire FB, Monastir, Université de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Anouar
authors: A
authors: Mechri
authors: Laboratoire de vulnérabilité aux psychoses LR10ES05 et Service de psychiatrie Centre Hospitalier Universitaire FB, Monastir, Université de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Ferid
authors: F
authors: Zaafrane
authors: Laboratoire de vulnérabilité aux psychoses LR10ES05 et Service de psychiatrie Centre Hospitalier Universitaire FB, Monastir, Université de Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Lotfi
authors: L
authors: Gaha
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ruhr University Bochum LWL University Hospital Bochum, Alexandrinenstr., 144791 Bochum, Germany.
authors: Georg
authors: G
authors: Juckel
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie Médicale et Moléculaire (LP3M), LR12ES08, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Monastir, Laboratoire B Centre de Maternité EPS. F, Bourguiba. Monastir, Tunisia.
authors: Hamouda
authors: H
authors: Babba
authors: Laboratoire de génétique, biodiversité et valorisation des bioressources (LGVB) LR11ES41, Institut supérieur de biotechnologie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia. Electronic address: bbhj2002@yahoo.fr.
authors: Besma
authors: B
authors: Bel Hadj Jrad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BPRS; GAF; Male gender; Onset of schizophrenia; SANS; Schizophrenia; Serum IgG; Toxoplasma gondii