The schizophrenia and Toxoplasma gondii connection:: Infectious, immune or both?

Introduction: Recent research has suggested a possible link between toxoplasmic agents and schizophrenia. We aimed to assess this by measuring Toxoplasma gondii-associated antibodies in schizophrenia patients and controls. Methods: We used a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to measure the level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies in serum samples from schizophrenia patients (n= 40) and from a group of non-schizophrenic control subjects (n= 37). Results: Among schizophrenic patients, 16 (40%) showed IgG seropositivity and two (5%) showed IgM seropositivity. Among the control group, five (13.5%) were found have IgG seropositivity and one (2.7%) showed IgM seropositivity. In our study we found that IgG T gondii antibodies were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients compared with controls. Conclusion: This study supports the theory that toxoplasmic agents may have a role in the aetiology of schizophrenia.