Toxoplasma gondii and psychopathology: latent infection is associated with interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism, and higher testosterone levels in men, but not in women
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Springer Nature
Abstract
Description
Objective The ability of parasites to hijack the nervous system, manipulating the host’s
physiology and behavior in ways that enhance the parasite’s fitness while damaging
host fitness, is a topic of ongoing research interest in evolutionary biology, but is
largely overlooked in mental health research. Nevertheless, recent evidence has shown
that Toxoplasma gondii infection can change host testosterone levels and influence the
development of some psychiatric disorders. Here, we tested this hypothesis in a mixed
sample of 213 non-clinical subjects.
Methods Participants (nmales = 108, nfemales = 105) provided 5 ml of blood to quantify
testosterone levels and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. The Symptom Checklist-90-
Revised was used to assess psychopathological symptoms.
Results The results showed that Toxoplasma-infected men had higher testosterone
levels and scored higher in Interpersonal Sensitivity and Psychoticism symptoms than
non-infected men. Toxoplasma-infected women did not differ from control women.
Conclusions Framed in an evolutionary framework, the findings suggest that the elevated
testosterone levels and the expression of psychopathological symptoms can be seen as the
result of the manipulation exerted by Toxoplasma gondii either to reach its definitive host or
to increase its spread. Future research can benefit from integrating insights from evolutionary
biology and parasite-host interactions with physiology, immunology, and mental health to
develop a better understanding of mental health etiology.