Neurobiological studies on the relationship between toxoplasmosis and neuropsychiatric diseases

J Neurol Sci. 2015 Feb 21. pii: S0022-510X(15)00095-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.02.028. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Fabiani S¹, Pinto B¹, Bonuccelli U², Bruschi F³.

 

Toxoplasma gondii is a widespread protozoan parasite infecting approximately one third of the world population. After proliferation of tachyzoites during the acute stage, the parasite forms tissue cysts in various anatomical sites including the Central Nervous tissue, and establishes a chronic infection. Clinical spectrum normally ranges from a completely asymptomatic infection to severe multi-organ involvement. Many studies have suggested T. gondii infection as a risk factor for the development of some neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia. During the last years, a potential link with other neurobiological diseases such as Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease has also been suggested. This review will focus on neurobiological and epidemiological data relating infection with T. gondii to neuropsychiatric diseases.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

KEYWORDS:

Immune response; Neurobiology; Neurological diseases; Neurotransmitter pathway; Schizophrenia spectrum disorders; T. gondii

PMID:

25725931

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]