Grada Sebastian, Mihu Alin Gabriel, Oatis Daniela Adriana, Marc Constantin Catalin, Chicea Liana Maria, Petrescu Cristina, Lupu Alina Maria, Olariu Tudor Rares
Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Center for Diagnosis and Study of Parasitic Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Biomedicines. 2024 May 1;12(5):998. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines12050998.
The protozoan parasite, , has been linked to several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of IgG antibodies and risk factors associated with seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This seroepidemiological study assessed 196 participants, divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 98 schizophrenic patients and was matched with 98 healthy blood donors. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding potential risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Results revealed a higher seroprevalence of IgG antibodies in schizophrenic patients (69.39%, 68/98) when compared to healthy controls (51.02%, 50/98) (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.21-3.9; = 0.01). Patients with schizophrenia who consumed raw or undercooked meat (80.65%, 25/31) (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.25-11.21, = 0.02) and those with a lower educational level (77.59%, 45/58) (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.59-7.54, = 0.002) presented increased seropositivity rates versus their control counterparts. Our findings indicate a high IgG seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy blood donors. Factors associated with seroprevalence were consumption of raw or uncooked meat and a lower educational attainment. This study provided the first data regarding the potential risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Romanian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and may serve as a foundation for future research and the development of preventive strategies.
原生动物寄生虫弓形虫已与包括精神分裂症在内的多种精神疾病相关联。本研究的目的是评估被诊断为精神分裂症的患者中弓形虫IgG抗体的流行率以及与血清阳性率相关的危险因素。这项血清流行病学研究评估了196名参与者，分为两组。研究组由98名精神分裂症患者组成，并与98名健康献血者进行匹配。使用问卷调查收集与弓形虫血清阳性率相关的潜在危险因素的信息。结果显示，与健康对照组（51.02%，50/98）相比，精神分裂症患者中弓形虫IgG抗体的血清阳性率更高（69.39%，68/98）（比值比：2.18；95%置信区间：1.21 - 3.9；P = 0.01）。食用生肉或未煮熟肉类的精神分裂症患者（80.65%，25/31）（比值比：3.75；95%置信区间：1.25 - 11.21，P = 0.02）以及教育水平较低的患者（77.59%，45/58）（比值比：3.5；95%置信区间：1.59 - 7.54，P = 0.002）与对照组相比，血清阳性率更高。我们的研究结果表明，与健康献血者相比，被诊断为精神分裂症的患者中弓形虫IgG血清阳性率较高。与弓形虫血清阳性率相关的因素是食用生肉或未煮熟的肉类以及教育程度较低。本研究提供了关于罗马尼亚被诊断为精神分裂症患者弓形虫病潜在危险因素的首批数据，并可为未来研究和预防策略的制定奠定基础。
