TY - JOUR
T1 - "Latent" infection with Toxoplasma gondii
T2 - Association with trait aggression and impulsivity in healthy adults
AU - Cook, Thomas B.
AU - Brenner, Lisa A.
AU - Cloninger, C. Robert
AU - Langenberg, Patricia
AU - Igbide, Ajirioghene
AU - Giegling, Ina
AU - Hartmann, Annette M.
AU - Konte, Bettina
AU - Friedl, Marion
AU - Brundin, Lena
AU - Groer, Maureen W.
AU - Can, Adem
AU - Rujescu, Dan
AU - Postolache, Teodor T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014.
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - Background: Latent chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common neurotropic pathogen, has been previously linked with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). We sought to determine if latent infection with T.gondii is associated with trait aggression and impulsivity, intermediate phenotypes for suicidal behavior, in psychiatrically healthy adults. Methods: Traits of aggression and impulsivity were analyzed in relationship to IgG antibody seropositivity for T.gondii and two other latent neurotropic infections, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). One thousand community-residing adults residing in the Munich metropolitan area with no Axis I or II conditions by SCID for DSM-IV (510 men, 490 women, mean age 53.6±15.8, range 20-74). Plasma samples were tested for IgG antibodies to T.gondii, HSV-1 and CMV by ELISA. Self-reported ratings of trait aggression scores (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression [FAF]) and trait impulsivity (Sensation-Seeking Scale-V [SSS-V]) were analyzed using linear multivariate methods. Results: T.gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher trait reactive aggression scores among women (p<.01), but not among men. T.gondii-positivity was also associated with higher impulsive sensation-seeking (SSS-V Disinhibition) among younger men (p<.01) aged 20-59 years old (median age=60). All associations with HSV-1 and CMV were not significant. Conclusions: Aggression and impulsivity, personality traits considered as endophenotypes for SSDV, are associated with latent T.gondii infection in a gender and age-specific manner, and could be further investigated as prognostic and treatment targets in T.gondii-positive individuals at risk for SSDV.
AB - Background: Latent chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common neurotropic pathogen, has been previously linked with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). We sought to determine if latent infection with T.gondii is associated with trait aggression and impulsivity, intermediate phenotypes for suicidal behavior, in psychiatrically healthy adults. Methods: Traits of aggression and impulsivity were analyzed in relationship to IgG antibody seropositivity for T.gondii and two other latent neurotropic infections, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). One thousand community-residing adults residing in the Munich metropolitan area with no Axis I or II conditions by SCID for DSM-IV (510 men, 490 women, mean age 53.6±15.8, range 20-74). Plasma samples were tested for IgG antibodies to T.gondii, HSV-1 and CMV by ELISA. Self-reported ratings of trait aggression scores (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression [FAF]) and trait impulsivity (Sensation-Seeking Scale-V [SSS-V]) were analyzed using linear multivariate methods. Results: T.gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher trait reactive aggression scores among women (p<.01), but not among men. T.gondii-positivity was also associated with higher impulsive sensation-seeking (SSS-V Disinhibition) among younger men (p<.01) aged 20-59 years old (median age=60). All associations with HSV-1 and CMV were not significant. Conclusions: Aggression and impulsivity, personality traits considered as endophenotypes for SSDV, are associated with latent T.gondii infection in a gender and age-specific manner, and could be further investigated as prognostic and treatment targets in T.gondii-positive individuals at risk for SSDV.
KW - Aggression
KW - Impulsivity
KW - Personality
KW - Toxoplasma gondii
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919388233&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 25306262
AN - SCOPUS:84919388233
SN - 0022-3956
VL - 60
SP - 87
EP - 94
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
ER -