Early Infections of Toxoplasma Gondii and the Later Development of Schizophrenia

Overview

Journal Schizophr Bull

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2007 Mar 3

PMID 17329231

Citations 58

Authors

Preben Bo Mortensen

Bent Norgaard-Pedersen

Berit L Waltoft

Tina L Sorensen

David Hougaard

Robert H Yolken

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Early exposure to several infectious agents has been associated with the later development of schizophrenia. Two recent studies assessed in utero or early postnatal exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. In one study of 63 individuals, who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders, maternal sera obtained during pregnancy showed an increased risk (OR 2.61) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. In the other study of 71 individuals who developed schizophrenia, sera obtained shortly after birth also showed an increased risk (OR 1.79) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Causal linking mechanisms are at present speculative but include possible direct effects of maternal IgG on the developing central nervous system (CNS) of the offspring. Additional studies are underway.

Citing Articles

Association between latent toxoplasmosis and bipolar disorder: a case-control seroprevalence study.

Pagheh A, Talebian A, Nayeri T, Esmaeili A, Rezaei F, Nazar E BMC Infect Dis. 2025; 25(1):2.

PMID: 39743583 PMC: 11694387. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-10405-0.

Toxoplasma-induced behavior changes - is microbial dysbiosis the missing link?.

Prandovszky E, Severance E, Splan V, Liu H, Xiao J, Yolken R Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024; 14:1415079.

PMID: 39403206 PMC: 11471644. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1415079.

Urban-Rural Differences in Schizophrenia Risk: Multilevel Survival Analyses of Individual- and Neighborhood-Level Indicators, Urbanicity and Population Density in a Danish National Cohort Study.

Pedersen C, Antonsen S, Timmermann A, Pedersen M, Ejlskov L, Horsdal H Schizophr Bull Open. 2024; 3(1):sgab056.

PMID: 39144779 PMC: 11205963. DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgab056.

, a plea for a thorough investigation of its oncogenic potential.

Dupont D, Robert M, Brenier-Pinchart M, Lefevre A, Wallon M, Pelloux H Heliyon. 2023; 9(11):e22147.

PMID: 38034818 PMC: 10685377. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22147.

Association Between Childhood Exposure to Pet Cats and Later Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Study in Saudi Arabia.

Hakami R, Alnaami A, Shbeeli K, Al Suhaym A, Khormi B, Faqihi I Cureus. 2023; 14(12):e32401.

PMID: 36636540 PMC: 9831139. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32401.

References

DeGiorgio L, Konstantinov K, Lee S, Hardin J, Volpe B, Diamond B . A subset of lupus anti-DNA antibodies cross-reacts with the NR2 glutamate receptor in systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Med. 2001; 7(11):1189-93. DOI: 10.1038/nm1101-1189. View

Lebech M, Andersen O, Christensen N, Hertel J, Nielsen H, Peitersen B . Feasibility of neonatal screening for toxoplasma infection in the absence of prenatal treatment. Danish Congenital Toxoplasmosis Study Group . Lancet. 1999; 353(9167):1834-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(98)11281-3. View

Buka S, Tsuang M, Torrey E, Klebanoff M, Bernstein D, Yolken R . Maternal infections and subsequent psychosis among offspring. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2001; 58(11):1032-7. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.58.11.1032. View

Darnell R, Posner J . Paraneoplastic syndromes affecting the nervous system. Semin Oncol. 2006; 33(3):270-98. DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2006.03.008. View

Babulas V, Factor-Litvak P, Goetz R, Schaefer C, Brown A . Prenatal exposure to maternal genital and reproductive infections and adult schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 2006; 163(5):927-9. DOI: 10.1176/ajp.2006.163.5.927. View

Kosugi I, Kawasaki H, Tsuchida T, Tsutsui Y . Cytomegalovirus infection inhibits the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the developing mouse hippocampus and primary neuronal cultures. Acta Neuropathol. 2005; 109(5):475-82. DOI: 10.1007/s00401-005-0987-7. View

Mednick S, Machon R, Huttunen M, Bonett D . Adult schizophrenia following prenatal exposure to an influenza epidemic. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1988; 45(2):189-92. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1988.01800260109013. View

Barr C, Mednick S, Munk-Jorgensen P . Exposure to influenza epidemics during gestation and adult schizophrenia. A 40-year study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1990; 47(9):869-74. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1990.01810210077012. View

Sakic B, Kirkham D, Ballok D, Mwanjewe J, Fearon I, Macri J . Proliferating brain cells are a target of neurotoxic CSF in systemic autoimmune disease. J Neuroimmunol. 2005; 169(1-2):68-85. PMC: 1634761. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2005.08.010. View

10.

Murray R, Sham P, van Os J, Zanelli J, Cannon M, McDonald C . A developmental model for similarities and dissimilarities between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Schizophr Res. 2004; 71(2-3):405-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2004.03.002. View

11.

Suvisaari J, Haukka J, Tanskanen A, Hovi T, Lonnqvist J . Association between prenatal exposure to poliovirus infection and adult schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 1999; 156(7):1100-2. DOI: 10.1176/ajp.156.7.1100. View

12.

Brown A, Begg M, Gravenstein S, Schaefer C, Wyatt R, Bresnahan M . Serologic evidence of prenatal influenza in the etiology of schizophrenia. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004; 61(8):774-80. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.61.8.774. View

13.

Herlenius E, Lagercrantz H . Development of neurotransmitter systems during critical periods. Exp Neurol. 2004; 190 Suppl 1:S8-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2004.03.027. View

14.

Mortensen P, Norgaard-Pedersen B, Waltoft B, Sorensen T, Hougaard D, Torrey E . Toxoplasma gondii as a risk factor for early-onset schizophrenia: analysis of filter paper blood samples obtained at birth. Biol Psychiatry. 2006; 61(5):688-93. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.05.024. View

15.

Koponen H, Rantakallio P, Veijola J, Jones P, Jokelainen J, Isohanni M . Childhood central nervous system infections and risk for schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004; 254(1):9-13. DOI: 10.1007/s00406-004-0485-2. View

16.

Stibbs H . Changes in brain concentrations of catecholamines and indoleamines in Toxoplasma gondii infected mice. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1985; 79(2):153-7. DOI: 10.1080/00034983.1985.11811902. View

17.

Brown A, Cohen P, Harkavy-Friedman J, Babulas V, Malaspina D, Gorman J . A.E. Bennett Research Award. Prenatal rubella, premorbid abnormalities, and adult schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry. 2001; 49(6):473-86. DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01068-x. View

18.

Yolken R, Torrey E . Viruses, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1995; 8(1):131-45. PMC: 172852. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.8.1.131. View

19.

Muller N, Schwarz M . [Immunology in schizophrenic disorders]. Nervenarzt. 2006; 78(3):253-6, 258-60, 262-3. DOI: 10.1007/s00115-006-2108-9. View

20.

Torrey E, Rawlings R, Yolken R . The antecedents of psychoses: a case-control study of selected risk factors. Schizophr Res. 2000; 46(1):17-23. DOI: 10.1016/s0920-9964(99)00237-6. View