A C-peptide complex with albumin and Zn2+ increases measurable GLUT1 levels in membranes of human red blood cells.

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) require exogenous administration of insulin, which stimulates the translocation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter to cell membranes. However, most bloodstream cells contain GLUT1 and are not directly affected by insulin. Here, we report that C-peptide, the 31-amino acid peptide secreted in equal amounts with insulin in vivo, is part of a 3-component complex that affects red blood cell (RBC) membranes. Multiple techniques were used to demonstrate saturable and specific C-peptide binding to RBCs when delivered as part of a complex with albumin. Importantly, when the complex also included Zn2+, a significant increase in cell membrane GLUT1 was measured, thus providing a cellular effect similar to insulin, but on a transporter on which insulin has no effect.

Meeting report: The 4th Iranian Congress of Community Oral Health.

The 4th Iranian Congress of Community Oral Health was held on 28th and 29th of November 2019 in Mashhad, Iran under the theme of "Oral Health for All". The congress brought together almost 300 Iranian dentists, including nearly 40 with a PhD in Community Oral Health, and 25 PhD students. This unprecedented large gathering of Iranian dentists, either specialists or dentists interested in community oral health, was one of the main characteristics of the meeting.

The relation of serum prolactin levels and Toxoplasma infection in humans.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite distributed worldwide. Although the infection is benign in immunocompetent individuals, it is life threatening and complicated in immunocompromised patients and fetuses of pregnant women who received their first exposure to T. gondii during the pregnancy. Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland, and it is confirmed that it plays a role in the immune system. The present study was carried out to assess the possible relation between serum PRL levels and Toxoplasma infection frequency in human. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 343 serum samples (240 from women and 103 from men) were collected from individuals who were referred for PRL checking in laboratories of Karaj, Iran. Blood samples were collected, and sera were separated and analyzed for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody by ELISA method. The levels of PRL were measured by Roche Elecsys 2010 analyzer, electrochemiluminescence technology. RESULTS: Of 343 sera, 110 samples (32%) consisting of samples from 42 men and 68 women had anti-T. gondii IgG antibody. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in women with high PRL levels was lower than that in the comparison group with normal levels of PRL and the relationship between these two parameters was statistically significant (P=0.016). In women with hyperprolactinemia, by increasing of PRL levels, the prevalence of T. gondii infection was reduced. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study confirmed the previous studies based on immunoregulatory role of PRL and indicated that high levels of PRL could be related to Toxoplasma seronegativity in women.

Design of a dual-promoter expression vector harboring Sag1 and Gra7 genes from Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain).

Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, has possible irreparable consequences in immunocompromised patients and fetuses. Finding an effective method of prevention, such as vaccination, is crucial because of the global distribution of the parasite and the lack of effective anti-toxoplasmosis drugs. The Sag1 and Gra7 antigens of T. gondii can induce strong humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Therefore, to develop a novel DNA vaccine against toxoplasmosis, we prepared a eukaryotic construct expressing the Sag1 and Gra7 genes of T. gondii (RH strain). We then verified the ability of this construct to produce the corresponding Sag1 and Gra7 antigens in mammalian cells. Using specific primers, the complete coding sequences of Sag1 and Gra7 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the genomic DNA of T. gondii. Then, both genes were subcloned into pVitro2-neo-mcs plasmid. The pVitro-Sag1-Gra7 construct was subjected to colony PCR, enzymatic digestion, and sequencing to confirm successful subcloning. Sag1 and Gra7 expression in HeLa cells was investigated. Sag1 and Gra7 were successfully subcloned in pVitro2-neo-mcs plasmid. The expression of Sag1 and Gra7 in HeLa cells was confirmed through Western blot analysis. The recombinant pVitro-Sag1-Gra7 construct that simultaneously produces Sag1 and Gra7 antigens in one mammalian cell may be used to develop a novel protective vaccine against toxoplasmosis.

Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii soluble, whole and excretory/secretary antigens for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by ELISA test.

The present study was performed to compare the soluble, whole and excretory/secretary antigens of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by ELISA method. Tachyzoites of T. gondii, RH strain were injected in intra-peritoneal cavity of BALB/c mice, after 4 days tachyzoites were harvested by peritoneal washing of the mice. For soluble antigen, exudates were centrifuged and sediment sonicated and then centrifuged at 4 °C, 1 h, supernatant collected and density of protein determined by Bradford method. For whole antigen after collecting, washing and centrifuging of peritoneal fluid the tachyzoites sediment was counted. In excretory/secretary antigen 1.5 × 108 tachyzoites were transferred in 1 ml tube of saline and incubated under mild agitation and after centrifuging, supernatant was collected and protein density determined by Bradford method. 176 human serum samples were evaluated for T. gondii IgG antibody with prepared antigens, and finally serum samples were evaluated by commercial ELISA kit (Trinity, USA) which was considered as gold standard method. In this study sensitivity and specificity of prepared antigens compared with commercial kit in ELISA method. Sensitivity and specificity of soluble antigen was 91.4 and 74.5 %, in whole antigen these parameters were 77.1 and 77.3 % and in excretory/secretary antigen were 28.5 and 74.5 % respectively. Soluble antigen had high levels of sensitivity and specificity in ELISA method and the results were rather resemble to commercial kit (Trinity, USA).

PCR-RFLP analysis of Plasmodium vivax reticulocyte binding protein2c gene in field isolates of Iran.

A family of reticulocyte-binding proteins of Plasmodium vivax (PvRBP) is localised at the apical pole of the merozoites and appears to bind to reticulocytes specifically and has also been involved in identifying host cells. Protein component produced by the Pvrbp2c gene is highly antigenic. The aim of this study was to detect the genetic diversity in the Pvrbp2c gene of Iranian P. vivax field isolates using the polymerase chain reaction- restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. A total of 79 P. vivax malaria patients with fever participated in the study. Alu1 and Apo1 restriction enzymes were independently used to identify allelic variants of the Pvrbp2c gene. All of the samples exhibited a single band of about 2 Kb in nested PCR. Among 79 P. vivax field isolates in the RFLP with Apo1 and Alu1 restriction enzymes, 15 and nine patterns were observed, respectively. In total, 24 various patterns were detected from the combined findings of both Alu1 and Apo1 fragments in RFLP. This study revealed that Pvrbp2c has genetic diversity in southeast Iran. Genotyping of Pvrbp2c not only shows the heterogeneity of P. vivax but also provides important information that could be used to control vivax malaria.

Comparison of the Toxoplasma gondii mice and cell culture derived antigens in ELISA assay.

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the coccidian parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Diagnosis is based on serological methods with detection of specific IgG and IgM antibodies. The present study was performed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of soluble antigen of T. gondii, RH strain obtained from mice and cell culture in ELISA method. Tachyzoites of T. gondii, RH strain that inoculated in mice peritoneum were collected. At the same time, tachyzoites were harvested from HeLa cell culture that infected with the parasite. Soluble antigen was prepared and ELISA method performed on 100 serum samples that were collected from different laboratories in Tehran, Iran. Commercial Trinity kit was used as gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity of T.gondii soluble antigen were higher in antigens that obtained from cell culture in comparison with mice peritoneum. T. gondii cell culture derived antigen has high sensitivity and specificity in ELISA test.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic dogs in an area from northwest of Iran: a cross-sectional study using immunodominant surface antigen 1 (SAG1).

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects humans and animals. T. gondii surface antigen 1 (SAG1) is an appropriate antigen with high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of T. gondii infection in humans and animal hosts. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection using SAG1 antigen (P30) in ownership dogs in Meshkin-Shahr district in the northwestern Iran. The sera samples were collected from 171 domestic dogs and tested using indirect ELISA (SAG1 antigen). The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13. From a total of 171 dogs, 82 (48 %) of them were sero-positive. No statistical significant difference was seen between T. gondii infection and gender (P = 0.995). The highest sero-prevalence of rate was observed in >5 years animals; but no statistical significant difference was seen between T. gondii infection and age (P = 0.589). Our findings indicate that Toxoplasma seropositivity rate is high in ownership dogs in northwest of Iran. This is probably due to high exposure to contaminated food, soil, or water sources with sporulated Toxoplasma oocysts.

Brain Tissue Cysts in Infected Mice with RH-Strain of Toxoplasma gondii and Evaluation of BAG1 and SAG1 Genes Expression.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects humans at high prevalence rates. The virulent RH strain of T. gondii is generally considered to have lost its cyst forming capacity. This study performed to obtain tissue cysts in mice infected with tachyzoites of RH strain treated with sulfadiazine (SDZ). It provides the opportunity to analyze the conversion of tachyzoite to bradyzoite stage of the RH strain, followed by stage-specific gene-expression analyzing. METHODS: Two groups of Swiss-Webster and BALB/c mice were infected subcutaneously with 10(4) tachyzoites of T. gondii, RH strain and given SDZ (300 mg/l) with NaHCO3 (5 g(-1)) in drinking water from day1 to day 14 post infection (p.i). The infected mice were sacrificed on day 50 post infection. Their brains were removed and the numbers of tissue cysts were microscopically counted. Total RNA was extracted from brains and cDNA synthesis was carried out. Finally, RT-PCR (Reverse transcription PCR) was used to detect the expression of bradyzoite (BAG1) and tachyzoite (SAG1) specific genes during tachyzoite / bradyzoite stage conversion. RESULTS: Sixty five percent of all infected mice were survived. Cysts were detectable in mice brain (45%) on day 50 p.i. Also RT-PCR of the brain samples was positive for SAG1 and BAG1. CONCLUSION: It seems that conversion of tachyzoites to bradyzoites in brain of mice undergoing SDZ was not completed until 50 days after inoculation.

Assessment of the efficacy of 8 weeks of primaquine for the prevention of relapse in vivax malaria patients using SSCP-PCR and sequencing in South and South-East Iran, 2008-2011.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of vivax malaria with primaquine prevents the risk of relapse. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of 8 weeks of primaquine treatment in prevention of relapse in patients with vivax malaria in south and south-east Iran by SSCP-PCR and sequencing. METHODS: A total of 163 symptomatic vivax malaria cases were followed up in Hormozgan and Sistan, Baluchestan provinces in south and south-east Iran between December 2008 and December 2011. DNA was extracted from primary and secondary positive samples. A variation region of PvMSP-1 gene was selected and amplified by PCR. The obtained fragments were processed in polyacrylamide gel for single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and then sequenced. RESULTS: Among 145 patients treated with chloroquine plus primaquine who completed the study period, two patients (1.4%) experienced a secondary infection after the initial episode of Plasmodium vivax. The comparison between primary and secondary isolates by SSCP indicated different banding patterns and electrophoretic mobility. Alignment of nucleotide sequences between pair primary and secondary isolates revealed dissimilar homology. Secondary isolates of both patients were considered as reinfection. Five of the 18 cases (28%) treated with chloroquine only revealed secondary infection. Analysis of nucleotide sequences and SSCP patterns indicated the relapse in all of them. CONCLUSION: This survey indicates that intake of primaquine, 0.75 mg/kg, weekly for 8 consecutive weeks, is effective for the prevention of relapse in vivax cases in Iran.

Tobacco use among Iranian dental students: a national survey.

A national survey was conducted to provide up-to-date data on current and ever use of tobacco among Iranian dental students. All 4th-year students of 8 randomly selected dental schools were surveyed anonymously in December 2010 using the Global Health Professions Student Survey questionnaire. Of 325 participants, 54.2% were ever users of tobacco products (73.0% of males versus 44.4% of females); 50.8% had used waterpipes, 34.2% cigarettes and 9.3% other products. The most common age at first use was 20-24 years for both sexes. Current tobacco use was reported by 20.6% of respondents, cigarette smoking by 10.8% and waterpipe smoking by 15.8%. Regression models showed that current cigarette and waterpipe smoking were significantly associated with male sex but not with type of dental school (state/private). Current waterpipe smoking was also associated with age at first experience. In view of the important role of dentists in tobacco control, the prevention of tobacco use should be stressed among Iranian dental students.

In vivo Susceptibility of Plasmodium vivax to Chloroquine in Southeastern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax is the predominant species causes of malaria with about 90% total annual reported malaria in Iran. This study conducted to determine the susceptibility of Plasmodium vivax isolates to chloroquine in Sistan and Balochistan Province, southeastern Iran. METHODS: A total 270 subjects with symptomatic malaria and confirmed P. vivax infection completed the designed 28-day in vivo study. The thick and thin film blood smears were screened for malaria parasites by microscopy. The nested PCR was applied using the Plasmodium 18 subunit ribosomal ribonucleic (Ssr RNA) genes for detecting mixed infections and diagnosis of parasites in the samples with low parasite on days 0, 5, 6, 7, and 28. RESULTS: P. vivax was cleared in 15%, 50%, 95%, and 100% of patients on days 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively by microscopy assessment. Six patients were exhibited specific P. vivax band in nested PCR on day 5. No recurrence was observed on days 7, 14 and 28. Mean (±standard deviation) parasite clearance time was 2.41 (±0.8) days. CONCLUSION: P. vivax is still susceptible to chloroquine in Southeatern Iran. This finding is compatible with results of neighboring countries Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pediatric hydatidosis in Iranian referral pediatrics center.

BACKGROUND: Hydatidosis is one of the major zoonotic diseases that cause considerable public health problems in Iran. The present study was designed to investigate pediatric hydatidosis in patients referred to the Children Medical Center Hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2005-2010. METHODS: Data were collected from the records of 17 patients referred to the center with hydatidosis. Data included demographic data; laboratory results, type, and site of cysts, clinical manifestations, and treatment. RESULTS: Nine patients were boys (52.9%) and eight (47.1%) were girls. Most patients referred from central areas of Iran (58.8%). Seven patients had cysts in their lungs (41.2%) and three cases (17.6%) in liver. Six cases (35.3%) had simultaneous lung and liver cysts, 3 patients (17.6%) had brain cysts (alone or in combination with other organs involvement) and 2 patients (11.7%) showed multi-organ involvement. All patients were treated by albendazole and underwent surgery, recurrence was seen in 4 (23.5%) of the cases and one patient died due to rupture of the cyst and anaphylactic shock. CONCLUSION: Multi-organ involvement seems to be on the rise in children, this has led to the necessity for physicians to be more aware of clinical features, search, and rule out other organs for involvement diagnosis once a cyst is detected in one organ.

Production and Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii Recombinant Surface Antigen 1 (SAG1) for Serodiagnosis of Acute and Chronic Toxoplasma Infection in Human Sera.

BACKGROUND: The assays currently available for the detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may vary in their abilities to detect serum immunoglobulins, due to the Lack of a purified standardized antigen. The aim of this study was evaluation the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen for the serodiagnosis of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. METHODS: This study describes an ELISA using recombinant SAG1 for detection of IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in human sera. Genomic DNA of T. gondii (RH Strain) was isolated and PCR reaction was performed. Recovered DNA was cloned into PTZ57R cloning vector. The recombinant plasmid was detected by restriction analysis. The SAG1 gene was subcloned in the pET- 28a expression vector. Protein production was then induced with 1 mM isopropyl-D - thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). A total of 204 sera were tested using a commercial IgG and IgM ELISA kit (Trinity, USA) as gold standard prior to testing them with the recombinant antigen. RESULTS: Tested sera were divided into the following groups:(a) The 74 T. gondii IgG positive (b) 70 T.gondii IgM positive (c) 60 sera who had no serological evidence of toxoplasmosis as negative sera.To determine the specificity of the test, we used other parasitic diseases including echinococusis (N=5), malaria (N=14), leishmaniasis (N=7),fasciolasis (N=4), sterengyloidiasis (N=1). Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgG ELISA in comparison with commercial ELISA (Com ELISA) were 93% and 95%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgM ELISA were 87% and 95% respectively. CONCLUSION: The results acquired here show that this antigen is useful for diagnostic purposes and could be replaced by lysed, whole cell antigens for diagnosis of chronic toxoplasmosis.

Genetic Variation of MSP-1 Gene in Plasmodium vivax Isolated from Patients in Hormozgan Province, Iran using SSCP-PCR.

BACKGROUND: The main goal of present study was to detect polymorphism in MSP-1 gene which is a major blood stage candidate for vaccine in Plasmodium vivax by Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism-Polymerase Chain Reaction (SSCP-PCR). METHODS: During 2008 to 2010 fifty samples were collected from Iranian patients with P. vivax in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. All of the samples were detected by microscopical examination. Amplification of MSP-1 gene was done by PCR after DNA extraction. Single strand DNAs due to using in SSCP, was electrophoresed on polyacrylamid- Bisacrylamid gel then banding patterns were revealed by silver-staining method. Sequencing as a typing method was performed for some isolates. RESULTS: All of the 50 isolates were positive microscopically. Totally 12 (24%) isolates showed 440 bp and 38 (76%) showed 500 bp in PCR assay. SSCP analysis revealed four banding patterns. Pattern I (10/50), Pattern II (12/50), Pattern III (27/50), and Pattern IV (1/50). The results sequencing analysis of the MSP-1 gene in 19 isolates revealed diversity in nucleotides and amino acid in Iranian P. vivax isolates. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that the SSCP-PCR is a rapid method for detecting polymorphism in MSP-1 gene in P. vivax. The presence of different haplotypes in MSP-1 gene shows that several P. vivax strains exist in malaria endemic areas of Iran.

Comparison of microscopical examination and semi-nested multiplex polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax.

We compared light microscopy examination and a semi-nested multiplex PCR (SnM-PCR) assay in endemic areas of the Islamic Republic of Iran. A total of 68 individuals with malaria-positive and suspected malaria symptoms were included in the study. Giemsa-stained thick blood films were examined under a light microscope for malaria parasites in 100 and 200 fields. DNA was extracted from blood samples and SnM-PCR based on the amplification of the small sub-unit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) gene sequences was applied. Microscopical examination showed that 48.5% (33.8% P. vivax and 14.7% P.falciparum) and 50% (35.3% P. vivax and 14.7% P. falciparum) of the samples were positive in 100 and 200 fields respectively. SnM-PCR showed the same results as the 200 field microscopy.

Neospora caninum and Leishmania infantum Co-Infection in Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris) in Meshkin-Shahr District, Northwestern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (MVL) is an infectious disease that affects both human and animals. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are principal reservoir hosts of MVL caused by Leishmania infantum. Dogs are definitive hosts for Neospora caninum and a risk factor for infecting intermediate hosts. The immunosuppression caused by visceral leishmaniasis (VL) can promote the occurrence of co-infections with other agents such as neosporosis. This study aimed to determine the frequency of co-infection of the both protozoan parasites in the endemic areas of VL from Meshkin-Shahr District, north-west of Iran. METHODS: Altogether, 171 serum samples were collected from domestic dogs of Meshkin-Shahr District by multistage cluster sampling from October 2008 to August 2009. The collected serum samples were tested for the detection of simultaneous infection of L. infantum and N. caninum using direct agglutination test (DAT) and indirect ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 171 domestic dogs, 27 (15.8%) and 52 (30.4%) were showed antibodies against L. infantum and N. caninum, respectively. Simultaneous infections of N. caninum and L. infantum was found in 16 (9.4%) of the dogs. In VL-positive and VL-negative dogs, N. caninum infection was found in 59.3% and 25.0%, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between VL-positive and VL-negative dogs with N. caninum infection (P= 0.001). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Meshkin-Shahr District in northwestern Iran is an active focus of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Neospora caninum and L. infantum co-infection is prevalent in the area and infection by L. infantum seems to enhance susceptibility to N. caninum infection in domestic dogs.

Epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in baft district, kerman province, southeast of iran.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) is an endemic disease in some areas of Iran. A cross- sectional study was conducted for sero-epidemiological survey of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Baft district from Kerman Province, southeast of Iran. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from children up to 12 years old and 10% of adult population from Baft villages with a multi-stage randomized cluster sampling. In addition, blood samples were collected from 30 domestic dogs from the same areas. All the collected blood samples were tested by direct agglutination test (DAT) for the detection of anti-Leishmania antibodies in both human and dog using the cut-off value of ≥1:3200 and ≥1:320, respectively. Parasitological, molecular, and pathological were performed on infected dogs. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare sero-prevalence values. RESULTS: From 1476 collected human serum samples, 23 (1.55%) showed anti-Leishmania antibodies at titers of 1:800 and 1:1600 whereas 14 (0.95%) showed anti-Leishmania infantum antibodies at titers of ≥1:3200. No statistically significant difference was found between male (1.18%) and female (0.69%) sero-prevalence (P=0.330). Children of 5-8 years showed the highest sero-prevalence rate (3.22%). Seven out of 30 domestic dogs (23%) showed anti-Leishmania antibodies at titers ≥1:320. Leishmania infantum was identified in five infected dogs by nested - PCR assay. CONCLUSION: It seems that visceral leishmaniasis is being endemic in southern villages of Baft district, southeast of Iran.

Rapid Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Antigen in Experimentally Infected Mice by Dot- ELISA.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide endemic disease. In congenitally infected infants and AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis causes high rates of morbidity and mortality. In these cases antibody detection is difficult; so detection of parasite or its components could be useful tool for early detection and following treatment of the infection. METHODS: Sixty-three BALB/c mice were injected intra-peritoneal with 5×10(3) tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain, nine mice were sacrificed daily for 7 days. Fourteen mice were injected with phosphate buffer saline as control group. Dot-ELISA was performed for detection of T.gondii antigen in mice sera and capture - ELISA was done as golden standard assay too. RESULTS: Toxoplasma gondii antigen was detected from day 2 in mice sera; 22% of mice sera on day 2, 33% on day 3,77% on day 4 and 100% on day 5 till their death on day 7 had shown antigenemia by dot - ELISA, no positive result was detected in control mice by dot- ELISA. CONCLUSION: Dot-ELISA is a sensitive method for diagnosis of T. gondii infection in the animal model; also, this technique is more rapid and easy to perform method in comparison with capture-ELISA.

Toxoplasma infection in schizophrenia patients: a comparative study with control group.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a serious, chronic, and often debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder. Its causes are still poorly understood. Besides genetic and non-genetic (environmental) factors are thought to be important as the cause of the structural and functional deficits that characterize schizophrenia. This study aimed to compare Toxoplasma gondii infection between schizophrenia patients and non-schizophrenia individuals as control group. METHODS: A case-control study was designed in Tehran, Iran during 2009-2010. Sixty-two patients with schizophrenia and 62 non-schizophrenia volunteers were selected. To ascertain a possible relationship between T. gondii infection and schizophrenia, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were detected by indirect-ELISA. Data were statistically analyzed by chi- square at a confidence level of 99%. RESULTS: The sero-positivity rate among patients with schizophrenia (67.7%) was significantly higher than control group (37.1) (P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: A significant correlation between Toxoplasma infection and schizophrenia might be expected.