Does Toxoplasma gondii Related to Schizophrenic Symptoms? A Narrative Systematic Review

Background: Accumulating evidence associated infectious agents with schizophrenia. Majority of these studies analyzed Toxoplasma. gondii association with schizophrenia.

Aims and Objectives: the present study aimed to perform systematic search on studies conducted on investigating association between T. gondii and schizophrenia using IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Secondary objective was to discuss possible mechanisms by which T. gondii linked to schizophrenia.

Methods: Systematic search performed using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science and University of Manchester databases. Key words Schizo* AND Toxoplasm* used to find articles published from years 2010-2020, used IgG antibodies against T. gondii, and patients participated in these studies definitively diagnosed with schizophrenia using DSM-IV or ICD- 10.

Results: Total of 122 articles was identified after duplicated were removed, of these 24 were included in review. Two-third of studies found that schizophrenic patients had significantly higher IgG antibodies versus controls.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that T. gondii is associated with schizophrenia and that T. gondii might be risk factor for schizophrenia development. If causative link is ascertained, then it would be possible to treat and prevent schizophrenia.