An Ongoing Debate Regarding the Etiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Latent Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Introduction: The hypothesis that Toxoplasma gondii may be responsible for psychiatric disorders due to its neurotropic nature and the ability of modulating neurotransmitter systems has been frequently discussed in recent years. The aim of the study was to investigate T. gondii seroprevalence in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy volunteers living in Isparta region of Turkey, and to assess the possible relationship between T. gondii and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 48 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic data, probable risk factors for T. gondii infection and clinical features were evaluated. Serum anti-T.gondii IgM and IgG levels were determined by using chemiluminescence immunoassay method (Roche Cobas e601 analyzer, Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). Results: Anti-T.gondii IgG seropositivity rates were found to be 15.8% and 18.8% in the patient group and the control group, respectively. No statistically significant association was detected between T. gondii IgG seropositivity and obsessive-compulsive disorder (p= 0.719). In the study population, advanced age, low education level, low socioeconomic status, living in a rural region and consumption of unwashed raw vegetable or fruit were found to be the significant risk factors for T. gondii infection (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Our preliminary findings do not support the hypothesis that T. gondii infection is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Further comprehensive studies are required to confirm our results.