Department of Clinical Services, Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Pathog Glob Health. 2013 Jun;107(4):189-93. doi: 10.1179/2047773213Y.0000000093.
While the aetiology for most psychotic disorders is unknown, a strong association has been observed between Toxoplasma gondii infection and psychosis. The proportion of individuals with psychotic disorders who have current or past infection with toxoplasma has been varied. Reports from the African continent have however been scanty.
A case control study of patients with a psychotic disorder presenting for the first time to a regional psychiatric facility was undertaken and compared to age and sex-matched healthy controls. In addition to socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, seroprevalence (IgG and IgM) of T. gondii was undertaken using an immunoassay test kit.
IgG seropositivity was significantly higher among cases (30·7% vs 17·85%, OR = 2·04, 95% CI = 1·12-3·74, P<0·02). In contrast, IgM seropositivity was significantly lower among the cases (7·14% vs 8·57%, OR = 0·82, 95% CI = 0·31-2·16, P = 0·82). Cases who were IgG seropositive to T. gondii were more likely to be older (P<0·001) and female (P<0·001). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of T. gondii infection and, eaten poorly cooked meat (0·88), and diagnostic group (P = 0·53). Though there was a trend towards exposure to cats, this failed to reach significance (P = 0·08).
T. gondii (IgG) infection is common among individuals with severe mental illness sampled and significantly higher compared to controls.
虽然大多数精神病的病因尚不清楚，但已观察到弓形虫感染与精神病之间存在很强的关联。患有现症或既往弓形虫感染的精神病患者比例各不相同。然而，来自非洲大陆的报告却很少。
对首次到区域精神病院就诊的精神病患者进行病例对照研究，并与年龄和性别匹配的健康对照进行比较。除了社会人口统计学和临床特征外，还使用免疫测定试剂盒检测 T. gondii 的血清阳性率（IgG 和 IgM）。
病例组 IgG 血清阳性率显著高于对照组（30.7% vs 17.85%，OR = 2.04，95%CI = 1.12-3.74，P<0.02）。相比之下，病例组的 IgM 血清阳性率显著较低（7.14% vs 8.57%，OR = 0.82，95%CI = 0.31-2.16，P = 0.82）。感染 T. gondii 的 IgG 血清阳性病例更可能年龄较大（P<0.001）和女性（P<0.001）。在 T. gondii 感染方面以及吃不熟的肉（0.88）和诊断组（P = 0.53）方面没有统计学上的显著差异。尽管接触猫的趋势明显，但没有达到统计学意义（P = 0.08）。
在抽样的严重精神疾病患者中，T. gondii（IgG）感染很常见，且明显高于对照组。
