Abstract
This study aimed to determine the association between suicidal behavior and T. gondii seroreactivity in 2045 patients attending primary care clinics. IgG antibodies against T. gondii were found in 37 (12.1%) out of 306 individuals with a history of suicidal ideation and in 134 (7.7%) of 1739 individuals without this history (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.11–2.42; p = 0.01). Seropositivity to T. gondii was associated with suicidal ideation in women (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.01–2.42; p = 0.03) and individuals aged ≤30 years (OR: 3.25; 95% CI: 1.53–6.88; p = 0.001). No association between the rates of high (>150 IU/mL) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was found. IgG antibodies against T. gondii were found in 22 of 185 (11.9%) individuals with a history of suicide attempts and in 149 (8.0%) of 1860 individuals without this history (OR: 1.54; 95% CI: 0.96–2.49; p = 0.06). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with suicide attempts in individuals aged 31–50 years (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.09–3.71; p = 0.02), and with more than three suicide attempts (OR: 4.02; 95% CI: 1.34–12.03; p = 0.008). Our results indicate that T. gondii exposure is associated with suicidal behavior among patients attending primary care clinics.
Highlights
The coccidian protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects more than 100 species of vertebrates, including one-third of the human population [1,2]
Our results indicate that T. gondii exposure is associated with suicidal behavior among patients attending primary care clinics
IgG antibodies against T. gondii were found in 37 (12.1%) of the 306 individuals with a history of suicidal ideation and in 134 (7.7%) of the 1739 individuals without this history (OR: 1.64; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.11–2.42; p = 0.01)
Summary
The coccidian protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects more than 100 species of vertebrates, including one-third of the human population [1,2]. Cats are the most important host in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis because they are the only species that can excrete oocysts in feces [4]. The reactivation of latent disease in immunocompromised patients can cause life-threatening encephalitis [5]. Suicide behavior in psychiatric patients has been associated with high titers of anti-T. gondii antibodies [15,16] and the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection [17]. To the best of our knowledge, the link between T. gondii infection and suicide behavior in patients of primary care has not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the association between suicidal behavior and T. gondii infection in outpatients that were attending primary health care clinics in Durango, Mexico
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