Persistent <i>Toxoplasma</i> Infection of the Brain Induced Neurodegeneration Associated with Activation of Complement and Microglia

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii , a common neurotropic parasite, is increasingly being linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. However, the pathogenic mechanisms underlying these associations are not clear. Toxoplasma can reside in the brain for extensive periods in the form of tissue cysts, and this process requires a continuous immune response to prevent the parasite’s reactivation.