Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects central nervous tissue and is kept in relative dormancy by a healthy immune system. Sleep disturbances have been found to precipitate mental illness, suicidal behavior and car accidents, which have been previously linked to T. gondii as well. We speculated that if sleep disruption, particularly insomnia, would mediate, at least partly, the link between T. gondii infection and related behavioral dysregulation, then we would be able to identify significant associations between sleep disruption and T. gondii. The mechanisms for such an association may involve dopamine (DA) production by T. gondii, or collateral effects of immune activation necessary to keep T. gondii in check. Sleep questionnaires from 2031 Old Order Amish were analyzed in relationship to T. gondii-IgG antibodies measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and serointensity were not associated with any of the sleep latency variables or Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). A secondary analysis identified, after adjustment for age group, a statistical trend toward shorter sleep duration in seropositive men (p=0.07). In conclusion, it is unlikely that sleep disruption mediates links between T. gondii and mental illness or behavioral dysregulation. Trending gender differences in associations between T. gondii and shorter sleep need further investigation.

中文翻译：

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入睡失眠、白天嗜睡和睡眠持续时间与弓形虫 IgG 血清阳性和血清强度的关系

弓形虫（弓形虫）感染中枢神经组织并通过健康的免疫系统保持相对休眠状态。研究发现，睡眠障碍会引发精神疾病、自杀行为和车祸，而这些疾病此前曾被认为与弓形虫也是如此。我们推测，如果睡眠中断，特别是失眠，会至少部分地介导两者之间的联系弓形虫感染和相关的行为失调，那么我们就能够确定睡眠中断和弓形虫。这种关联的机制可能涉及多巴胺（DA）的产生弓形虫，或保持免疫激活所必需的附带影响弓形虫在检查中。对 2031 年旧秩序阿米什人的睡眠问卷进行了分析弓形虫-通过酶联免疫吸附测定 (ELISA) 测量 IgG 抗体。弓形虫血清阳性和血清强度与任何睡眠潜伏期变量或 Epworth 嗜睡量表 (ESS) 均无关。二次分析发现，在调整年龄组后，血清反应呈阳性的男性存在睡眠时间较短的统计趋势（p=0.07）。总之，睡眠中断不太可能介导之间的联系弓形虫以及精神疾病或行为失调。之间关联的性别差异趋势弓形虫和较短的睡眠需要进一步研究。