Early infections of Toxoplasma gondii and the later development of schizophrenia

Preben Bo Mortensen; Bent Nørgaard-Pedersen; Berit L. Waltoft; Tina L. Sørensen; David Hougaard; Robert H. Yolken

doi:10.1093/schbul/sbm009

Early infections of Toxoplasma gondii and the later development of schizophrenia

Preben Bo Mortensen, Bent Nørgaard-Pedersen, Berit L. Waltoft, Tina L. Sørensen, David Hougaard, Robert H. Yolken

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

126 Scopus citations

Abstract

Early exposure to several infectious agents has been associated with the later development of schizophrenia. Two recent studies assessed in utero or early postnatal exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. In one study of 63 individuals, who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders, maternal sera obtained during pregnancy showed an increased risk (OR 2.61) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. In the other study of 71 individuals who developed schizophrenia, sera obtained shortly after birth also showed an increased risk (OR 1.79) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Causal linking mechanisms are at present speculative but include possible direct effects of maternal IgG on the developing central nervous system (CNS) of the offspring. Additional studies are underway.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	741-744
Number of pages	4
Journal	Schizophrenia bulletin
Volume	33
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbm009
State	Published - Sep 2007

Keywords

Biobank
Birth cohort
Nested case-control study

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1093/schbul/sbm009

Cite this

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abstract = "Early exposure to several infectious agents has been associated with the later development of schizophrenia. Two recent studies assessed in utero or early postnatal exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. In one study of 63 individuals, who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders, maternal sera obtained during pregnancy showed an increased risk (OR 2.61) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. In the other study of 71 individuals who developed schizophrenia, sera obtained shortly after birth also showed an increased risk (OR 1.79) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Causal linking mechanisms are at present speculative but include possible direct effects of maternal IgG on the developing central nervous system (CNS) of the offspring. Additional studies are underway.",

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AU - Mortensen, Preben Bo

AU - Nørgaard-Pedersen, Bent

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AU - Hougaard, David

AU - Yolken, Robert H.

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AB - Early exposure to several infectious agents has been associated with the later development of schizophrenia. Two recent studies assessed in utero or early postnatal exposure to Toxoplasma gondii. In one study of 63 individuals, who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders, maternal sera obtained during pregnancy showed an increased risk (OR 2.61) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. In the other study of 71 individuals who developed schizophrenia, sera obtained shortly after birth also showed an increased risk (OR 1.79) of having IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Causal linking mechanisms are at present speculative but include possible direct effects of maternal IgG on the developing central nervous system (CNS) of the offspring. Additional studies are underway.

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Early infections of Toxoplasma gondii and the later development of schizophrenia

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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