Abstract
Introduction: The opinion that latent T. gondiiinfection is having a broadly asymptomatic projection has now been
interrogated, in specific due to the echoed association between the
latent infection and an elevated incidence of schizophrenia or even
suicide attempts. Notwithstanding conducted studies aimed to understand
this feasible link are restricted. Methods: In the present
case-control study, we focused to illuminate the relationship between
the serological and molecular presence of T. gondii and
schizophrenia with or without the suicide attempts by comparing it with
healthy individuals. A total of 237 participants (117 in schizophrenia;
120 in healthy control) were included in this study. Results:Overall, latent T. gondii infections were found statistically
higher in 63 (53.8%) of the 117 patients with schizophrenia and in 33
(27.5%) of the 120 controls (p < 0.001). In schizophrenia
patients, seroprevalence T. gondii was again found to be
statistically higher in suicide attempters (59.6%), compared to no
history of suicide attempts (48.3%) (p < 0.05). The molecular
positivity rate of T. gondii DNA was higher in the schizophrenia
group, compared to the healthy control group (p < 0.05),
whereas the history of suicide attempts was not statistically associated
(p = 0.831) with T. gondii DNA positivity by PCR.Conclusion: This case-control study enlightens additional
demonstration to the belief that T. gondii infection would be an
underlying component for the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Regardless of the clarity results of this study, this supposition
warrants further endorsement.
Keywords: Schizophrenia, Suicide attempt,Toxoplasma gondii , ELISA, PCR