Toxoplasma gondii Infection https://greenmedinfo.com/category/keywords/Toxoplasma%20gondii%20Infection en Individuals who were obese had significant higher T. gondii IgG titers compared to individuals who were non-obese. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/individuals-who-were-obese-had-significant-higher-t-gondii-igg-titers-compared n/a PMID:  Front Public Health. 2013 ;1:73. Epub 2013 Dec 25. PMID: 24400300 Abstract Title:  A Positive Association between T. gondii Seropositivity and Obesity. Abstract:  Obesity is a global public health problem that is linked with morbidity, mortality, and functional limitations and has limited options for sustained interventions. Novel targets for prevention and intervention require further research into the pathogenesis of obesity. Consistently, elevated markers of inflammation have been reported in association with obesity, but their causes and consequences are not well understood. An emerging field of research has investigated the association of infections and environmental pathogens with obesity, potential causes of low grade inflammation that may mediate obesity risk. In this study, we estimate the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and obesity in a sample of 999 psychiatrically healthy adults. Individuals with psychiatric conditions, including personality disorders, were excluded because of the association between positive serology to T. gondii and various forms of serious mental illness that have a strong association with obesity. In our sample, individuals with positive T. gondii serology had twice the odds of being obese compared to seronegative individuals (p = 0.01). Further, individuals who were obese had significant higher T. gondii IgG titers compared to individuals who were non-obese. Latent T. gondii infection is very common worldwide, so potential public health interventions related to this parasite can have a high impact on associated healthconcerns. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/individuals-who-were-obese-had-significant-higher-t-gondii-igg-titers-compared#comments Obesity Toxoplasma gondii Infection Toxoplasmosis obesity Risk Factors Toxoplasma gondii Infection Toxoplasmosis Human Study Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:22:44 +0000 greenmedinfo 144110 at https://greenmedinfo.com T. gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher trait reactive aggression scores among women. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/t-gondii-igg-seropositivity-was-significantly-associated-higher-trait-reactive n/a PMID:  J Psychiatr Res. 2015 Jan ;60:87-94. Epub 2014 Sep 28. PMID: 25306262 Abstract Title:  "Latent"infection with Toxoplasma gondii: association with trait aggression and impulsivity in healthy adults. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Latent chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common neurotropic pathogen, has been previously linked with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). We sought to determine if latent infection with T. gondii is associated with trait aggression and impulsivity, intermediate phenotypes for suicidal behavior, in psychiatrically healthy adults. METHODS: Traits of aggression and impulsivity were analyzed in relationship to IgG antibody seropositivity for T. gondii and two other latent neurotropic infections, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). One thousand community-residing adults residing in the Munich metropolitan area with no Axis I or II conditions by SCID for DSM-IV (510 men, 490 women, mean age 53.6± 15.8, range 20-74). Plasma samples were tested for IgG antibodies to T. gondii, HSV-1 and CMV by ELISA. Self-reported ratings of trait aggression scores (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression [FAF]) and trait impulsivity (Sensation-Seeking Scale-V [SSS-V]) were analyzed using linear multivariate methods. RESULTS: T. gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher trait reactive aggression scores among women (p<.01), but not among men. T. gondii-positivity was also associated with higher impulsive sensation-seeking (SSS-V Disinhibition) among younger men (p<.01) aged 20-59 years old (median age = 60). All associations with HSV-1 and CMV were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Aggression and impulsivity, personality traits considered as endophenotypes for SSDV, are associated with latent T. gondii infection in a gender and age-specific manner, and could be further investigated as prognostic and treatment targets in T. gondii-positive individuals at risk for SSDV. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/t-gondii-igg-seropositivity-was-significantly-associated-higher-trait-reactive#comments Psychiatric Disorder: Aggression Toxoplasma gondii Infection Toxoplasmosis Psychiatric Disorder: Aggression Toxoplasma gondii Infection Toxoplasmosis Human Study Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:34:50 +0000 greenmedinfo 144112 at https://greenmedinfo.com These data are consistent with previous studies suggesting a relationship between T. gondii and self-directed aggression. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-data-are-consistent-previous-studies-suggesting-relationship-between-t-g n/a PMID:  J Clin Psychiatry. 2016 Mar ;77(3):334-41. PMID: 27046307 Abstract Title:  Toxoplasma gondii infection: relationship with aggression in psychiatric subjects. Abstract:  OBJECTIVE: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a protozoan parasite that persists in host tissues, including brain, has been associated with several psychiatric disorders and with suicidal behavior. We sought to test the hypothesis that latent T. gondii infection, as manifest by circulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to T. gondii, is associated with both categorical and dimensional measures of aggression. METHOD: IgG antibodies to T. gondii were collected between 1991 and 2008 from 358 adult subjects with DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder (IED), non-IED psychiatric disorders (psychiatric controls), or no evidence of any psychiatric diagnosis (healthy controls). Assessments of aggression, anger, and impulsivity, as well as state/trait anger, depression, and anxiety were completed. T. gondii seropositive status (IgG>12 IU) was the primary outcome measure for this study. RESULTS: T. gondii seropositive status (IgG>12 IU) was associated with higher aggression (P = .022) and impulsivity (P = .05) scores. When both aggression and impulsivity scores were controlled for, however, only aggression scores were higher in seropositive subjects (P = .011). In addition, T. gondii seropositive status and marginal mean± SE aggression scores increased from healthy controls (9.1% and -0.66 ± 0.05) to psychiatric controls (16.7% and -0.27 ± 0.05) to subjects with IED (21.8% and 1.15 ± 0.06; P ≤ .05). These findings were not accounted for by the presence of other syndromal/personality disorders or by states ortraits related to depressed or anxious moods. CONCLUSIONS: These data are consistent with previous studies suggesting a relationship between T. gondii and self-directed aggression (ie, suicidal behavior) and further add to the biological complexity of impulsive aggression both from a categorical and a dimensional perspective. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-data-are-consistent-previous-studies-suggesting-relationship-between-t-g#comments Suicidal Behavior Toxoplasma gondii Infection Risk Factors Suicidal Behavior Toxoplasma gondii Infection Human Study Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:52:09 +0000 greenmedinfo 144115 at https://greenmedinfo.com These results are consistent with previous reports on the association between T gondii infection and nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-results-are-consistent-previous-reports-association-between-t-gondii-inf n/a PMID:  J Clin Psychiatry. 2012 Aug ;73(8):1069-76. Epub 2012 Jul 10. PMID: 22938818 Abstract Title:  Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies and nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. Abstract:  OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to relate Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity to scores on the self-rated Suicide Assessment Scale (SUAS-S). Another aim was to reevaluate the previously reported positive association between T gondii serointensity and a history of nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. METHOD: This cross-sectional, observational study compared T gondii serointensity and seropositivity in plasma from 54 adult suicide attempters (inpatients at Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden) and 30 adult control subjects (randomly selected from the municipal population register in Lund, Sweden) recruited between 2006 and 2010. The potential of patients and controls for self-directed violence was evaluated with the SUAS-S. Psychiatric diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV criteria. Plasma samples were tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies to T gondii, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus type 1. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to investigate the association between T gondii serointensity or seropositivity and a history of nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence; multivariable linear regression was used to explore the relationship between T gondii serointensity or seropositivity and the SUAS-S. Both regression models included sex, age, and body mass index as covariates. RESULTS: Seropositivity of T gondii (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 7.12; 95% CI, 1.66-30.6; P = .008) and serointensity of T gondii (adjusted OR = 2.01; 95% CI, 1.09-3.71; P = .03) were positively associated with a history of nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. Seropositivity of T gondii was associated with higher SUAS-S scores, a relationship significant for the whole sample (P = .026), but not for suicide attempters only. No significant associations with other pathogens were identified. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with previous reports on the association between T gondii infection and nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. Confirming these results in future large longitudinal studies and including suicide as an outcome may lead to novel individualized approaches in suicide prevention. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/these-results-are-consistent-previous-reports-association-between-t-gondii-inf#comments Suicidal Behavior Toxoplasma gondii Infection Risk Factors Suicidal Behavior Toxoplasma gondii Infection Human Study Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:40:23 +0000 greenmedinfo 144114 at https://greenmedinfo.com