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Related Concept Videos

Toxoplasmosis01:28

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
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Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
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Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
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Amebiasis

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3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii
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3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

Published on: December 9, 2014

Toxoplasma and schizophrenia.

R H Yolken1, F B Dickerson, E Fuller Torrey

  • 1Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287-4933, USA. Rhyolken@gmail.com

Parasite Immunology
|October 15, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is increasingly studied as a potential cause of schizophrenia. Research indicates links between Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, cat exposure, and schizophrenia symptoms.

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Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

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Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii
06:33

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

Published on: December 9, 2014

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-&#947;-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity
11:21

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

Published on: March 12, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder with a poorly understood etiology.
  • Infectious agents are increasingly investigated as potential contributing factors to schizophrenia.
  • Toxoplasma gondii, an opportunistic parasite, has emerged as a significant candidate due to multiple lines of evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize the evidence linking Toxoplasma gondii infection to schizophrenia.
  • To explore the biological, epidemiological, and pharmacological connections between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia.
  • To identify outstanding questions regarding the role of Toxoplasma gondii in schizophrenia etiology.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing epidemiological studies comparing schizophrenia patients and controls.
  • Examination of clinical observations of toxoplasmosis-induced psychosis.
  • Analysis of pharmacological data on antipsychotics and antiparasitic activity.
  • Investigation of animal models showing Toxoplasma gondii-induced dopamine level alterations.

Main Results:

  • Higher prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in individuals with schizophrenia compared to controls.
  • Similarities in epidemiological patterns between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia.
  • Antipsychotic medications show inhibitory effects on T. gondii.
  • T. gondii infection in animals leads to elevated dopamine levels, a hallmark of schizophrenia.

Conclusions:

  • Toxoplasma gondii presents a compelling candidate for involvement in schizophrenia etiology.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the roles of parasite strain, infection timing, and host genetics.
  • Establishing a definitive link could revolutionize schizophrenia treatment and prevention strategies.