Seroprevalance Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in children and adolescents with tourette syndrome/chronic motor or vocal tic disorder: A case-control study

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2018-05, Vol.263, p.154-157
• Main Authors: Akaltun, İsmail, Kara, Tayfun, Sertan Kara, Soner, Ayaydın, Hamza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - blood; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - immunology; Case-Control Studies; Child; Children; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Male; Seroprevalance; Tic disorders; Tic Disorders - blood; Tic Disorders - immunology; Tic Disorders - psychology; Tourette Syndrome - blood; Tourette Syndrome - immunology; Tourette Syndrome - psychology; Tourette's syndrome; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma - isolation & purification; Toxoplasma - metabolism; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasmosis - blood; Toxoplasmosis - immunology; Toxoplasmosis - psychology
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.020

Toxoplasma gondii infection may be associated with psychiatric disorders due to its neurological effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between tic disorders in children and adolescents and Anti-Toxoplasma IgG. 43 children diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome(TS) and 87 with chronic motor or vocal tic disorder(CMVTD), and 130 healthy volunteers, all aged 7–18, were enrolled. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody levels obtained from blood specimens were investigated. Toxoplasma IgG positivity was determined in 16(37.2%) of the patients with TS, in 27(31%) of those with CMVTD and in 12(9.2%) members of the control group. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody positivity was 5.827-fold higher in subjects with TS and 4.425-fold higher in subjects with CMVTD compared to the control group. Correlation was determined between a diagnosis of TS or CMVTD and Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. We think that it will be useful for the neuropsychiatric process associated with Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies to be clarified. •Toxoplasma parasites can affect neurobiological processes in human hosts.•Toxoplasma IgG positivity is high in children with Tourette syndrome and tic disorders.•There may be a causative or triggering relation between Toxoplasma and tic disorders.•The pathophysiological effects between toxoplasma and tic disorders must be clarified.