Abstract
Latent infection of the globally spread parasite Toxoplasma gondii in humans has been associated with changes in personality and behavior. Numerous studies have investigated the effect of toxoplasmosis on depression, but their results are inconsistent. Our study focused on the effect of latent toxoplasmosis on depression in men and women in association with their fertility. In 2016–2018, we recruited clients (677 men and 664 women) of the Center for Assisted Reproduction and asked them to complete a standardized Beck Depression Inventory-II. In women without fertility problems, we found higher depression scores in Toxoplasma-positive than in Toxoplasma-negative (p = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Toxoplasma-positive infertile men, on the other hand, had lower depression scores than Toxoplasma-negative infertile men (p ≤ 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.48). Our results are consistent with the previously described effects of latent toxoplasmosis, which seem to go in opposite directions regarding the effect on personality and behavior of men and women. Our results could be explained by gender-contrasting reactions to chronic stress associated with lifelong infection. This suggests that due to gender differences in the impact of latent toxoplasmosis, future studies ought to perform separate analyses for women and men.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)
We found no differences in the size of place of residence, level of education, smoking, or prevalence of fertility disorders between Toxoplasma-positive and Toxoplasma-negative women
We found no significant difference in depression levels between Toxoplasma-positive and Toxoplasma-negative women in the dataset as a whole; in women without fertility disorders we found that Toxoplasma-positive women are significantly more depressed than those who are Toxoplasma-negative
Summary
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Intermediate hosts of the parasite can be any warm-blooded animal, including humans [2]. Possible sources of postnatally acquired human infection include raw or undercooked meat containing parasite cysts, or food and water contaminated with oocysts from feline excrements [1]. Postnatally acquired toxoplasmosis manifests itself in two clinically distinct phases. The acute phase is characterized by a rapid proliferation of tachyzoites in various cells of the host’s body. Symptoms of this phase resemble those of a viral or bacterial infection and in immunocompetent individuals, this phase spontaneously transitions to a latent stage during which bradyzoites slowly multiply in tissue cysts [1]. The infection persists for the rest of their lives
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