Brain cancer mortality rates increase with Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in France

Infect Genet Evol. 2012 Jan 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Brain cancer mortality rates increase with Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in France.

Vittecoq M, Elguero E, Lafferty K, Roche B, Brodeur J, Gauthier-Clerc M, Missé D, Thomas F.

Source
IRD, MIVEGEC (UMR CNRS/IRD/UM1), 911 Ave. Agropolis, BP 64501, FR-34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France; Centre de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, Le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France.

Abstract
The incidence of adult brain cancer was shown to be higher in countries where the parasite Toxoplasma gondii is common, suggesting that this brain protozoan could potentially increase the risk of tumor formation. Using countries as replicates has, however, several potential confounding factors, particularly because detection rates vary with country wealth. Using an independent dataset entirely within France, we further establish the significance of the association between T. gondii and brain cancer and find additional demographic resolution. In adult age classes 55years and older, regional mortality rates due to brain cancer correlated positively with the local seroprevalence of T. gondii. This effect was particularly strong for men. While this novel evidence of a significant statistical association between T. gondii infection and brain cancer does not demonstrate causation, these results suggest that investigations at the scale of the individual are merited.

Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.

PMID: 22285308 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher