81. Relationships of Toxoplasma gondii antibody titers and dysphoric moods in female veterans

Abstract

A cross-sectional study of ethnically diverse female veterans (n = 53) was conducted. These veterans had a mean age of 49.8 years. A demographic scale and panel of psychosocial instruments were employed. Blood was drawn for inflammatory markers and Toxoplasma gondii titers. Chronic T. gondii infection has been associated with behavioral and mood changes in several populations, but has not been studied in veterans. Sixteen percent of this sample screened positive for PTSD and 20% for depression. T. gondii chronic infection, defined as a titer of 10 IU/ml or higher was present in 16% of the sample, and 5% had levels consistent with reactivation of this brain parasite (>200 IU/ml). The titers associated with chronic infection were correlated significantly with depression (p < .03), anger (p < .001) and total disturbance (p < .03). Women screening positive for depression and/or PTSD had four times higher titers than non-depressed women. In addition, T. gondii positive women reported significantly more experiences of military sexual trauma (p < .04). These data provide a snapshot of older women veterans with a 22% T. gondii infection rate. These women may have been exposed in the middle east where infection rate is much higher than in the US. This parasite localizes in the brain and may influence risk taking, reaction time, depression, schizophrenia and suicidality risk. The role of this organism in military related psychological and neurological sequelae deserves attention.