Investigation of Anti-Toxocaraand Anti-ToxoplasmaAntibodies in Patients with Schizophrenia Disorder

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship betweenToxoplasma gondiiandToxocaraspp. 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. gondiiand anti-Toxocaraspp. antibodies by ELISA and Western blotting. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher9s exact test.Results. There were no differences inT. gondiiIgG 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,Toxocaraspp. 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 ofT. gondiiorToxocaraspp. 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 ofToxocaraspp. infection. Moreover, contamination withT. gondiiis a risk factor for schizophrenia in women.