Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among schizophrenics at Hospital Kajang

Studies have found a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in schizophrenia patients than controls. This case-control study was done to determine the serprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and to identify its risk factors among schizophrenia patients at Hospital Kajang. Eighty-eight (88) schizophrenia patien...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Juanah, Lovetta Yatta, Jalaludin, Juliana, Osman, Malina, Jamil @ Osman, Zubaidah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Science Publications 2013
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29459/1/29459.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/29459/
http://thescipub.com/abstract/10.3844/ajidsp.2013.11.16
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Summary:Studies have found a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in schizophrenia patients than controls. This case-control study was done to determine the serprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and to identify its risk factors among schizophrenia patients at Hospital Kajang. Eighty-eight (88) schizophrenia patients and 88 non-psychiatric controls were examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic and behavioral data among the respondents. From the results, the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was significantly higher (51.0%) in schizophrenia patients than in controls (30.7%); (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 2.16-3.01; p = 0.023. There was no significant association between the socio-demographic factors and toxoplasmosis. Beef consumption (p = 0.004, OR = 3.852, CI: 1.550-9.569), pork consumption (p<0.001, OR = 13.089, 95%CI: 4.730-36.219) and risky cat contact (p = 0.047, OR = 4.061, 95% CI: 1.985-16.745), were found to be significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Our results show that there is a relationship between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia.