Parasite may cause some schizophrenia

A parasite found in cat feces and undercooked meat and a single brain gene hold fresh clues about the causes of schizophrenia, separate rat studies conclude.

British researchers said the parasite Toxoplasma gondii may be the spark for some environmentally caused cases of schizophrenia based on tests involving the anti-psychotic drug Haloperidol and mood-stabilizing drug Valporic acid.

The Imperial College London study, reported in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found the drugs were as effective or more effective in preventing behavioral changes in rats as drugs to directly fight the parasite.

In a separate study, University of Texas researchers said rats in which the brain gene NR1 was blocked were unable to learn new chocolate-finding tasks and exhibited symptoms of the mental illness.

The National Institute of Mental Health-supported study was reported in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The British researchers said human trials already are under way while the Texas team said human trials are planned in the future.

© Copyright 2006 by United Press International