The latent threat of Toxoplasma gondii infection for neurologic disease

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii, a ubiquitous neurotropic parasite, infects roughly one-third of the global population. In immunocompetent individuals, infection is typically asymptomatic, yet recent evidence suggests that latent T. gondii infection can subtly impair brain function and increase vulnerability to neurological disorders. This commentary, prompted by recent findings by Baker et al., highlights how chronic infection may exacerbate seizure susceptibility and neuroinflammation, particularly under a ’second hit’ model. The implications of such latent infections in public health and the importance of considering infection history in neurological disease models are discussed.