Abstract
BackgroundIt has been suggested that infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with slow reaction and poor concentration, whilst infection with Coxiella burnetii may lead to persistent symptoms of fatigue.Methods425 farmers completed the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) by computer between March and July 1999 to assess psychiatric morbidity. Samples of venous blood had been previously collected and seroprevalence of T. gondii and C. burnetii was assessed.Results45% of the cohort were seropositive for T. gondii and 31% were positive for C. burnetii. Infection with either agent was not associated with symptoms reflecting clinically relevant levels of concentration difficulties, fatigue, depression, depressive ideas or overall psychiatric morbidity.ConclusionsWe do not provide any evidence that infection with Toxoplasma gondii or Coxiella burnetii is associated with neuropsychiatric morbidity, in particular with symptoms of poor concentration or fatigue. However, this is a relatively healthy cohort with few individuals reporting neuropsychiatric morbidity and therefore the statistical power to test the study hypotheses is limited.
Highlights
It has been suggested that infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with slow reaction and poor concentration, whilst infection with Coxiella burnetii may lead to persistent symptoms of fatigue
It has been suggested that infections with the zoonoses Toxoplasma gondii and Coxiella burnetii may lead to long term neuropsychiatric morbidity
T. gondii infection is hypothesised to be associated with slow reaction and poor concentration [1,2] whilst C. burnetii infection is reported to be associated with persistent symptoms of fatigue for up to ten years following exposure [3,4,5]
Summary
It has been suggested that infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with slow reaction and poor concentration, whilst infection with Coxiella burnetii may lead to persistent symptoms of fatigue. It has been suggested that infections with the zoonoses Toxoplasma gondii and Coxiella burnetii may lead to long term neuropsychiatric morbidity. T. gondii infection is hypothesised to be associated with slow reaction and poor concentration [1,2] whilst C. burnetii infection is reported to be associated with persistent symptoms of fatigue for up to ten years following exposure [3,4,5]. Statistical associations were examined between measures of lifetime exposure to T. gondii and C. burnetii and current psychiatric morbidity measured by the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
