Investigation of Anti- Toxocara and Anti- Toxoplasma Antibodies in Patients with Schizophrenia Disorder

Abstract

Objective . The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections in patients with schizophrenia disorder. Method . A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia disorder and 95 healthy individuals participated in the study. Participants were tested for the presence of anti- T. gondii and anti- Toxocara spp. antibodies by ELISA and Western blotting. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher 9 s exact test. Results . There were no differences in T. gondii IgG seroprevalence between patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals ( P = 0.1 ), but there were differences in seroprevalence between males and females with schizophrenia ( P = 0.009 ). In contrast, Toxocara spp. IgG seroprevalence was greater in patients with schizophrenia disorder than in healthy individuals ( P = 0.02 ), but there were no differences in seroprevalence between men and women with schizophrenia ( P = 0.5 ). Finally, there were no differences in seroprevalence of T. gondii or Toxocara spp. IgG among different subtypes of schizophrenia, various age groups, residential area, or clinical course of treatment ( P > 0.05 ). Conclusion . The present study suggests that patients with schizophrenia disorder are at elevated risk of Toxocara spp. infection. Moreover, contamination with T. gondii is a risk factor for schizophrenia in women.