Comparative Study of Toxoplasmosis amongst Healthy Volunteers and Schizophrenics Attending Two Health Facilities in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Toxoplasmosis is a neglected tropical zoonotic infection caused by an intercellular protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii infection is gaining prominence as an important public health parasitic infection and possibly the aetiology of some cases of schizophrenia. The comparative seroprevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis were investigated among two subpopulations - schizophrenics (SZN) drawn from the Neuropsychiatric hospital Port Harcourt and Neuropsychiatric department of University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, all in Rivers State. Immunocompetent persons (IP) were used as control after ethical clearance was obtained from Rivers State Hospitals Management Board Ethical Committee. Immunodiagnostic techniques involving the detection of T. gondii antibodies in examined sera using ELISA IgG and IgM tests were employed. Well structured questionnaire was used to collect data on social demographic risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis. Out of the 400 subjects (200 subjects per sub population) examined, SZN recorded a seroprevalence of 54.0% (109) (P ≤ 0.05), while IP recorded 28.5% (57) (P ≤ 0.05). SZN recorded a higher seroprevalence compared to IP with 50.0% (100), 4% (8) and 21.5% (43), 7.0% (14) for Toxoplasma gondii ELISA IgG and IgM tests respectively. Age groups 35-40 and 40 and above both had the highest seroprevalence 11.0% (22) for SZN while age groups 25-29 had the highest seroprevalence of 7.5% (15) for IP. Students recorded the highest seroprevalence for SZN, 21.5% (43) for IgGE and 2.0% (4) for IgME while traders recorded the highest seroprevalence for IP 6.5% (13) for IgGE and 2.5% (5) for IgME. More males were infected among SZN while more females were infected for IP. Eating improperly washed fruits and vegetables, and drinking untreated water were the risk factors associated with the disease. Public health campaign, improved personal hygiene and routine tests have been advocated for.