<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Malaria and toxoplasmosis are two important parasitic diseases with significant public health concerns in the Sub-Saharan African countries. Some aspects of pathogenesis of the two parasitic diseases involve the central nervous system manifesting neuropsychiatric disorders. Studies have implicated the single infection by <italic>Plasmodium</italic> spp. and <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> in development of psychosis. Although concomitant infection of the two parasites suggests an aggravated psychotic condition, there is currently no reported study. This article reviewed some studies which implicated malaria and toxoplasmosis in psychosis. It further explored the likely role of concurrent infection by the parasites on psychosis, the dynamics of their pathology and possible effects of certain psychosis-associated cytokines and other biomolecules on the central nervous system. We recommend evidence-based research efforts in this field for the effective management of these two parasitic diseases to abate the public health burden of psychosis.</p></abstract>

Malaria and toxoplasmosis are two important parasitic diseases with significant public health concerns in the Sub-Saharan African countries. Some aspects of pathogenesis of the two parasitic diseases involve the central nervous system manifesting neuropsychiatric disorders. Studies have implicated the single infection by Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in development of psychosis. Although concomitant infection of the two parasites suggests an aggravated psychotic condition, there is currently no reported study. This article reviewed some studies which implicated malaria and toxoplasmosis in psychosis. It further explored the likely role of concurrent infection by the parasites on psychosis, the dynamics of their pathology and possible effects of certain psychosis-associated cytokines and other biomolecules on the central nervous system. We recommend evidence-based research efforts in this field for the effective management of these two parasitic diseases to abate the public health burden of psychosis.

Cerebral Malaria and Toxoplasmosis: Could their Concomitant Presentation Worsen Psychotic Condition?

Lagos State University, College of Medicine

Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology

Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital

Annals of Science and Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Malaria and toxoplasmosis are two important parasitic diseases with significant public health concerns in the Sub-Saharan African countries. Some aspects of...

Cerebral Malaria and Toxoplasmosis: Could their Concomitant Presentation Worsen Psychotic Condition?

Published Online: Nov 24, 2020

Page range: 24 - 39

Received: Jun 07, 2020

Accepted: Aug 30, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ast-2020-0011

Keywords
Malaria, toxoplasmosis, central nervous system, comorbidity, psychosis

© 2020 Mohammed A. Ibrahim et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cerebral Malaria and Toxoplasmosis: Could their Concomitant Presentation Worsen Psychotic Condition?

Published Online: Nov 24, 2020

Page range: 24 - 39

Received: Jun 07, 2020

Accepted: Aug 30, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ast-2020-0011

KeywordsMalaria, toxoplasmosis, central nervous system, comorbidity, psychosis

© 2020 Mohammed A. Ibrahim et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Malaria, toxoplasmosis, central nervous system, comorbidity, psychosis