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An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences

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An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences. / Achtziger, Anja; Alós-Ferrer, Carlos; Garagnani, Michele.
In: Acta Psychologica, Vol. 254, 104814, 30.04.2025, p. 1-9.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Achtziger, A, Alós-Ferrer, C & Garagnani, M 2025, 'An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences', Acta Psychologica, vol. 254, 104814, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104814

APA

Achtziger, A., Alós-Ferrer, C., & Garagnani, M. (2025). An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences. Acta Psychologica, 254, 1-9. Article 104814. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104814

Vancouver

Achtziger A, Alós-Ferrer C, Garagnani M. An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences. Acta Psychologica. 2025 Apr 30;254:1-9. 104814. Epub 2025 Feb 24. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104814

Author

Achtziger, Anja ; Alós-Ferrer, Carlos ; Garagnani, Michele. / An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences. In: Acta Psychologica. 2025 ; Vol. 254. pp. 1-9.

Bibtex

@article{eae3753b26824a19ae95249f067fa3ff,
title = "An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences",
abstract = "An estimated 2.4 billion humans are affected by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which causes one of the most common infections influencing human behavior and cognition. The infection and its effects are severely underresearched, because the diagnosis is costly and time-intensive, preventing widespread testing, in particular in less-than-wealthy regions. Psychological methods such as response time analysis could circumvent these problems and facilitate more intensive research. We propose a psychological diagnostic method for latent toxoplasmosis using response times, hence enabling large-scale tests of psychological, psychiatrical, and behavioral effects. A clinical trial (N = 119) showed that the method is sensitive (92 %) and specific (97 %) compared to testing for Toxoplasma IgG Antibodies (p < 0.0001, w = 0.85). A representative UK survey (N = 2020) using this method confirmed previously-hypothesized behavioral effects and uncovered previously-unknown effects of latent toxoplasmosis infections which are relevant and pervasive, both psychologically (increase in risky behaviors, depression, anxiety, and stress) and economically (decrease in yearly income of 2500 GBP; decrease in employment of 11 %).",
keywords = "Improving testing, Socioeconomic consequences, Toxoplasmosis",
author = "Anja Achtziger and Carlos Al{\'o}s-Ferrer and Michele Garagnani",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",
year = "2025",
month = apr,
day = "30",
doi = "10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104814",
language = "English",
volume = "254",
pages = "1--9",
journal = "Acta Psychologica",
issn = "0001-6918",
publisher = "Elsevier",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - An inexpensive method to measure latent toxoplasmosis and its behavioral consequences

AU - Achtziger, Anja

AU - Alós-Ferrer, Carlos

AU - Garagnani, Michele

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors

PY - 2025/4/30

Y1 - 2025/4/30

N2 - An estimated 2.4 billion humans are affected by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which causes one of the most common infections influencing human behavior and cognition. The infection and its effects are severely underresearched, because the diagnosis is costly and time-intensive, preventing widespread testing, in particular in less-than-wealthy regions. Psychological methods such as response time analysis could circumvent these problems and facilitate more intensive research. We propose a psychological diagnostic method for latent toxoplasmosis using response times, hence enabling large-scale tests of psychological, psychiatrical, and behavioral effects. A clinical trial (N = 119) showed that the method is sensitive (92 %) and specific (97 %) compared to testing for Toxoplasma IgG Antibodies (p < 0.0001, w = 0.85). A representative UK survey (N = 2020) using this method confirmed previously-hypothesized behavioral effects and uncovered previously-unknown effects of latent toxoplasmosis infections which are relevant and pervasive, both psychologically (increase in risky behaviors, depression, anxiety, and stress) and economically (decrease in yearly income of 2500 GBP; decrease in employment of 11 %).

AB - An estimated 2.4 billion humans are affected by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which causes one of the most common infections influencing human behavior and cognition. The infection and its effects are severely underresearched, because the diagnosis is costly and time-intensive, preventing widespread testing, in particular in less-than-wealthy regions. Psychological methods such as response time analysis could circumvent these problems and facilitate more intensive research. We propose a psychological diagnostic method for latent toxoplasmosis using response times, hence enabling large-scale tests of psychological, psychiatrical, and behavioral effects. A clinical trial (N = 119) showed that the method is sensitive (92 %) and specific (97 %) compared to testing for Toxoplasma IgG Antibodies (p < 0.0001, w = 0.85). A representative UK survey (N = 2020) using this method confirmed previously-hypothesized behavioral effects and uncovered previously-unknown effects of latent toxoplasmosis infections which are relevant and pervasive, both psychologically (increase in risky behaviors, depression, anxiety, and stress) and economically (decrease in yearly income of 2500 GBP; decrease in employment of 11 %).

KW - Improving testing

KW - Socioeconomic consequences

KW - Toxoplasmosis

U2 - 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104814

DO - 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104814

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39999732

AN - SCOPUS:85219048897

VL - 254

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - Acta Psychologica

JF - Acta Psychologica

SN - 0001-6918

M1 - 104814

ER -