ABSTRACT
We sought to determine the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection of the central nervous system and suicide in a sample of decedents in Mexico City. One hundred and forty-seven decedents (87 who committed suicide and 60 who did not commit suicide) were studied. Brain tissues (amygdala and prefrontal cortex) of decedents were examined for the detection of T. gondii using immunohistochemistry. Detection of T. gondii was positive in 7 (8.0%) of the 87 cases (6 found in prefrontal cortex and one in amygdala), and in one (1.7%) of the 60 controls (found in prefrontal cortex) (OR: 5.16; 95% CI: 0.61-43.10; P = 0.14). Results suggest that T. gondii infection in brain is not associated with suicide. Further studies to confirm this finding are needed.
ABSTRACT
We evaluated the association between T. gondii seropositivity and violent behavior in a sample of inmates in Durango, Mexico. Through a cross-sectional study design, we studied 128 inmates (mean age: 35.89 ± 10.51; range: 19-65 years). Sera of participants were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Violence was assessed by 1) the Historical, Clinical and Risk Management-20 (HCR-20) tool; 2) the type of the crime for which inmates were convicted; and 3) the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AGQ). Of the 128 inmates, 17 (13.3%) had high risk of violence by the HCR-20 criteria, 72 (56.3%) were considered violent by the type of the crime committed, and 59 (46.1%) were considered violent by the AGQ. Depending on the evaluation method of violence, the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in violent inmates varied from 0% to 6.9%. No statistically significant difference in anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence between violent and non-violent inmates was found (for instance by AGQ, OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.22-6.07; P = 1.00). Mean scores of the AGQ in T. gondii seropositive inmates (73.67 ± 29.09; 95% CI: 50.00-99.31) were similar to those (79.84 ± 25.00; 95% CI: 75.46-84.27) found in T. gondii seronegative inmates (P = 0.55). Mean scores of anger, psychical aggression, verbal aggression, and hostility in T. gondii seropositive inmates were similar to those found in T. gondii seronegative inmates. Results of this study suggest that infection with T. gondii is not associated with violence in inmates in Durango, Mexico. Further studies with larger sample sizes and in several correctional facilities to determine the association between T. gondii infection and violence in inmates are needed.
Subject(s)
Toxoplasma , Toxoplasmosis , Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Risk Factors , Antibodies, Protozoan , Immunoglobulin G , Immunoglobulin M , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Mexico/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , AggressionABSTRACT
We assessed the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection of the central nervous system and suicide correlates in suicide decedents. Eighty-seven decedents who died by suicide received in a forensic setting for medico-legal autopsies in Mexico City were studied. Two samples of brain (amygdala and prefrontal cortex) from each decedent were examined for detection of T. gondii using immunohistochemistry. Correlates of suicide including a history of previous suicide attempts, co-morbid mental disorder, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, irritability and aggression, economic problems, presence of drugs or alcohol in blood and suicide method were obtained and analyzed for their association with T. gondii infection. T. gondii immunohistochemistry was positive in prefrontal cortex sections in 6 decedents and in an amygdala section in one decedent. Thus, the prevalence of T. gondii infection in brain in suicide victims was 8.0% (7/87). Bivariate and logistic regression analysis of suicide correlates showed that only a history of depression was associated with T. gondii infection of the brain in suicide victims (OR: 12.00; 95% CI: 2.26-63.46; p = 0.003). Our results provide evidence that T. gondii infection in brain is associated with a history of depression in suicide decedents.
