Neglected Parasitic Infections of Poverty - Impact on Mental Health

An article in the NY Times brings to light the issue of neglected parasitic infections that may impact mental health.  In this case, Toxocara, a roundworm that lives in the intestines of stray or poorly kept cats and dogs, that can have health impacts on humans who become infected - breathing, liver function, eyesight and even intelligence.  The impact of infection on the brain is not well understood, but "has been linked to lower intelligence and epilepsy".  This is an issue in poorer areas where there are more stray cats and dogs.

Another common parasitic infection, that from Taxoplasmosis gondii, has been linked to cases of schizophrenia.  As we know,  cats are a definitive host for this parasite.

In a 2014 piece sited in the NY Times article, the author discusses a group of parasites that have been linked to mental performance and illness.  The author states,  "These chronic infections may partially account for the achievement gap noted among socioeconomically disadvantaged students."  He further states, "additional information has determined that the neglected infections of poverty also cause important psychiatric and neurological effects on vulnerable populations in the southern United States."  A table from that article summarizes this impact.

(Hotez, 2014. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71(10):1099-1100)


CDC web site for neglected parasitic infections (NPIs).


JAMA Psychiatry
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1895572
Neglected Infections of Poverty in the United States and Their Effects on the Brain
Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD1,2,3
Author Affiliations |Article Information
JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71(10):1099-1100. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.1045