Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38394236›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

Associations between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and psychopathological manifestations in schizophrenic patients: A single-center study from Ecuador.

Diego Rosado, Belen Intriago, Evelyn Loor, Flor Alcívar, Jorge Avila, Mario Sotomayor, Larissa Villacres, Marco Faytong-Haro

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 21% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.

Diego RosadoSchool of Health, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayas, Samborondón, Ecuador.ORCID 0000-0001-5074-4524
Belen IntriagoSchool of Health, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayas, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Evelyn LoorSchool of Health, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayas, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Flor AlcívarSchool of Health, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayas, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Jorge AvilaInternal Medicine, Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University, St, Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America.
Mario SotomayorGastroenterology Department, Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Cadiz, Spain.
Larissa VillacresSchool of Health, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Guayas, Samborondón, Ecuador.
Marco Faytong-HaroUniversidad Estatal de Milagro, Cdla. Universitaria "Dr. Rómulo Minchala Murillo", Guayas, Milagro, Ecuador.
Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo · ECHospital Universitario Puerta del Mar · ESTufts University · USUniversidad Estatal de Milagro · EC

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSchizophrenia, a complex neuropsychiatric disorder, is believed to be influenced by various factors including environmental exposures. A potential environmental factor is the infection by the obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii which affects neurotransmitter levels, which could potentially exacerbate, trigger symptoms of schizophrenia or make them worst.

objectiveTo investigate the association between Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and psychopathological presentation in persons with schizophrenia in Ecuador.

methodsThis study was conducted at the Neuroscience Institute of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Among 368 inpatients, 104 were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics captured patient characteristics and mental health outcomes. Logistic regression models estimated the effect of toxoplasmosis on various mental health outcomes, controlling for demographic and health-related variables.

results86.5% of participants were seropositive for toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma-seropositive schizophrenic patients had a lower risk of depression but a significantly higher risk of disorientation. The most prevalent mental health outcomes were Language Impairments (70.2%) and Bizarre Behavior (76.0%).

conclusionOur findings suggest that Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity may have specific effects on mental functions in schizophrenic patients, particularly reducing the risk of depression but increasing the risk of disorientation. Further studies are required to clarify these associations and the potential underlying mechanisms.

Indexed as

SchizophreniaToxoplasmaToxoplasmosisAntibodies, ProtozoanConfusionEcuadorHumansRisk FactorsSeroepidemiologic StudiesAntibodies, Protozoan

Identifiers

PMID38394236
PMCPMC10890741
OpenAlexW4392093984

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.