Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has a high worldwide prevalence and an underestimated impact on neuropsychiatric disorders. Previous studies related T. gondii to disorders associated with the dysfunctional dopaminergic system. However, an association between T. gondii infection and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not yet been studied. In a sex- and age-matched case–control study, we investigated the seropositivity, serointensity, and avidity of latent T. gondii infection in adult ADHD patients and examined the influence of those variables on the symptomatology of ADHD. Of 140 participants, 20.0% were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG and 0% for anti-T. gondii IgM. T. gondii seropositivity was associated with 2.8-fold increase in the odds of ADHD in a confounder-adjusted multivariable analysis. Age and consumption of raw/undercooked meat were confirmed as significant predictors of T. gondii seropositivity. Multiple linear regression analysis of self-rated ADHD-related symptom severity in all participants revealed a significant association with T. gondii seropositivity, elevated IgG titers (serointensity), and stronger anti-T. gondii IgG avidity. Overall symptom severity was increased in seropositive ADHD patients compared to seronegative subjects with ADHD. In particular, hyperactivity was significantly associated with serointensity. We conclude that there is a high rate of T. gondii seropositivity in adults with ADHD. Additionally, our results suggest a clinical impact of latent T. gondii infection on ADHD-related symptoms in a serointensity- and avidity-dependent manner.

Details

Title
Aggravation of symptom severity in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by latent Toxoplasma gondii infection: a case–control study
Author
Lam, Alexandra P 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; de Sordi Dominik 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Müller Helge H O 3 ; Lam, Martin C 4 ; Carl, Angelika 5 ; Kohse, Klaus P 5 ; Philipsen, Alexandra 6 

1  University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bonn, Germany (GRID:grid.10388.32) (ISNI:0000 0001 2240 3300); Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Oldenburg, Germany (GRID:grid.5560.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 1009 3608) 
2  Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Division of Epidemiology and Biometry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Oldenburg, Germany (GRID:grid.5560.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 1009 3608) 
3  University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bonn, Germany (GRID:grid.10388.32) (ISNI:0000 0001 2240 3300); Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Oldenburg, Germany (GRID:grid.5560.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 1009 3608); Witten/Herdecke University, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Chair of Integrative Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke, Germany (GRID:grid.412581.b) (ISNI:0000 0000 9024 6397) 
4  Medical Campus University of Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Oldenburg, Germany (GRID:grid.5560.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 1009 3608) 
5  Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Institute for Laboratory Diagnostics and Microbiology, Klinikum Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Oldenburg, Germany (GRID:grid.5560.6) (ISNI:0000 0001 1009 3608) 
6  University of Bonn, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bonn, Germany (GRID:grid.10388.32) (ISNI:0000 0001 2240 3300) 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
2020
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71084-w
ProQuest document ID
2439113106
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.