Can offspring sex ratios help to explain the endocrine effects of toxoplasmosis infection on human behaviour?. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: James, William H.; Grech, Victor
• Is Part Of: Early human development. Volume 122(2018)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Infant -- Newborn -- Toxoplasma; Fetus -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; Prenatal influences -- Periodicals; 612.65
• DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.06.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-3782

Abstract

Abstract: Humans infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii display a wide variety of abnormal behaviours, from suicide and depression to stuttering. These behaviours have been seen as so serious as to constitute a public health problem. It is not clear to what extent the parasite is a cause of, or merely a marker for, these behaviours, but there is evidence for both. Some of these behaviours are associated with changes in steroid hormones, that is, estrogen in women and testosterone in men. It is suggested here that these endocrine-related states of infected people may be better understood by studying their offspring sex ratios. Highlights: Human toxoplasmosis causes behavioural abnormalities. Some of these are associated with changes in steroid hormones. Offspring sex ratios are also putatively affected by paternal steroid hormones The correlation of endocrine-related states of infected individual and offspring sex ratios may be useful.