Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections in patients with schizophrenia disorder. Method. A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia disorder and 95 healthy individuals participated in the study. Participants were tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii and anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies by ELISA and Western blotting. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher9s exact test. Results. There were no differences in T. gondii IgG seroprevalence between patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals ( ), but there were differences in seroprevalence between males and females with schizophrenia ( ). In contrast, Toxocara spp. IgG seroprevalence was greater in patients with schizophrenia disorder than in healthy individuals ( ), but there were no differences in seroprevalence between men and women with schizophrenia ( ). Finally, there were no differences in seroprevalence of T. gondii or Toxocara spp. IgG among different subtypes of schizophrenia, various age groups, residential area, or clinical course of treatment ( ). Conclusion. The present study suggests that patients with schizophrenia disorder are at elevated risk of Toxocara spp. infection. Moreover, contamination with T. gondii is a risk factor for schizophrenia in women. 1. Introduction Schizophrenia is a severe, disabling mental disorder with a devastating impact on patients, their family, and society [1]. Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by a range of clinical features such as positive and negative symptoms [2], including a reduction in patients’ health-related quality of life [3]. The prevalence of schizophrenia has been reported to be 1% of the adult population [4], developing in late adolescence or early adulthood, and most patients suffer from the disease throughout their lifetime [1]. Toxocariasis is a helminthozoonosis, caused by the Ascaridida nematodes, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati [5]. Dogs and cats are the definitive hosts of T. canis and T. cati, respectively, although other mammals, such as humans and rodents, can be infected [6]. Humans are infected by ingestion of infectious eggs [6], often as a result of direct contact with pets or consumption of contaminated vegetables or undercooked meat [7]. Toxocara infection is also often transmitted by contact with the soil. Young children, people who live in rural areas, and people with soil-related occupation are at increased risk for toxocariasis [8–10]. The presence of Toxocara spp. larvae in the central nervous
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