Toxoplasma gondii infection significantly associated with development of epilepsy: study

The researchers calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using univariate analysis and logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders.

The results of the study are as follows:

The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in epileptic patients (68.1%; 95%CI, 57.6–77.3%) was significantly higher than healthy controls (47.7%; 95%CI, 36.9–58.6%), indicating a significant relationship between Toxoplasma infection seropositivity and epilepsy (adjusted OR, 2.58; 95%CI, 1.16–5.72; P-value < 0.05). The univariate analyses showed more than two-fold higher Toxoplasma seropositivity in patients with focal (OR, 2.31; 95%CI, 0.94–5.67) and generalized (OR, 2.35; 95%CI, 1.215–4.57) seizures versus healthy controls.

Thus, the researchers concluded that the findings support hypothesis that Toxoplasma infection/exposure may play an important role in the development of epilepsy. Preventive measures to control Toxoplasma infection especially in the north of Iran and early treatment might be effective to reduce the occurrence of epilepsy in this region.

Reference:

Mehravar S, et al. Toxoplasma infection and risk of epilepsy: A case-control study of incident patients published in the Microbial Pathogenesis.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105302