Effect of Toxoplasma gondii on some Neurotransmitter Levels in Patients with Toxoplasmosis Infection

Year : 2026 | Volume : 16 | 01 | Page :
    By

    Raja Jawad Mohamed,

  1. Lecturer, Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Technical Institute, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University 31001, Kufa,, Najaf, Iraq

Abstract

Background: The study of Toxoplasma gondii on some neurotransmitter levels in patients with toxoplasmosis infection is one of the challenges of sustainable development. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can alter host behavior by affecting neurotransmitters of the host. Aim: To diagnose if there are differences in neurotransmitter levels in infected people by toxoplasmosis and healthy people to predict the psychological and neurological diseases. Methods: The study included collecting 60 samples, 30 of which were from people infected with toxoplasmosis and 30 from healthy people. These people were visitors to the Middle Euphrates Center for Neurosciences during the period from August 2024 to January 2025. The presence of antibodies to the toxoplasmosis parasite was investigated using the ELISA test and the test kit from Calbiotech. The ages of the people included in the study ranged from 20 to 69 years. Verbal and written consent was obtained from them, and the content and purpose of the study were explained to them. The study also included investigations into education. 5 ml of blood samples were withdrawn from the people included in the study, the serum was isolated from the rest of the blood components, and the concentrations of neurotransmitters were investigated using the ELISA technique and the Elabscience kit. Results: The results showed that the number of infected men was more than women, and that most of the infected were Gainers, and that the age group between 40 and 59 was the most affected. The results of the current study also showed that people infected with toxoplasmosis had significant differences with healthy people, as they had higher concentrations of adrenaline compared to healthy people. However, when comparing the levels of neurotransmitters between healthy men and women, there were no significant differences. However, between men and women infected with toxoplasmosis, significant differences were shown, as the dopamine concentration rate was higher in women compared to men. conclusion: The results of the current study confirmed the proposed mechanism by which the toxoplasmosis parasite may induce behavioral changes in hosts via the parasite’s influence on the levels of certain neurotransmitters. There was no significant effect of gender on neurotransmitter levels when compared to healthy controls, but there was an increase in dopamine levels in women when compared to those infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite. We can also conclude that some psychiatric and neurological diseases, such as schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease, may be caused by infection with the toxoplasmosis parasite.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Neurotransmitter, Dopamine, Epinephrine, Nor-Epinephrine, Toxoplasmosis

How to cite this article:
Raja Jawad Mohamed. Effect of Toxoplasma gondii on some Neurotransmitter Levels in Patients with Toxoplasmosis Infection. Research and Reviews : A Journal of Life Sciences. 2025; 16(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Raja Jawad Mohamed. Effect of Toxoplasma gondii on some Neurotransmitter Levels in Patients with Toxoplasmosis Infection. Research and Reviews : A Journal of Life Sciences. 2025; 16(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjols/article=2025/view=236230


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 16
01
Received 21/11/2025
Accepted 18/12/2025
Published 20/12/2025
Publication Time 29 Days
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