Table 1.

Parasites affecting CNS and associated with mood disorders.

Parasites	Is it neurotro-pic?	target tissue	Related Psychiatric Symptoms	Types of psychiatric disorders	Possible causes or mechanisms	References
Toxoplasma gondii	Yes	Brain; Intestine; Lungs; Eyes; Heart;	Suicidal behavior; cognitive impairment; impaired social skills; anxiety and depression-like behavior;	Schizophrenia; BD; anxiety disorders; MDD;	Brain cyst load; neuroinflammation; structural and functional pathological alterations of neurons; synaptic and neurotransmitter abnormalities; tryptophan pathways;	(Torrey and Yolken, 2003; Groer et al., 2011; Robert-Gangneux and Darde, 2012; Schluter and Barragan, 2019; Tyebji et al., 2019; Yalin Sapmaz et al., 2019; Xiao, 2020; Postolache et al., 2021; Cossu et al., 2022)
Trypanosoma brucei	No	Brain;	Impaired motor and exploratory skills; anxiety-like behavior;	?	Central nervous system lesions; meningoencephalitis; increased pro-inflammatory cytokines;	(Stich et al., 2002; Darsaud et al., 2003; Saric et al., 2010; Adebiyi et al., 2021)
Entamoeba histolytica	No	Intestine; Liver; Lung; Brain; Skin;	Altered mental status;	?	Meningoencephalitis; destruction of normal brain structures;	(van Hal et al., 2007; Ong et al., 2017; Berger, 2022)
Plasmodium falciparum	No	Brain; Kidneys; Lungs; Spleen; Cerebellum;	Behavior change; cognitive impairment;	Mania; depression; anxiety;	Neurodevelopmental disorders; neuroinflammation; neuronal death;	(Newton, 2005; de Miranda et al., 2011; Moxon et al., 2020; Akide Ndunge et al., 2022,; Trivedi and Chakravarty, 2022)
Schistosoma japonicum	No	Intestine; Liver; Skin; Lungs; Adrenal glands; Skeletal muscle; Spinal cord; Brain;	Mobility and cognitive impairment;	Depression; anxiety;	Granuloma formation in the brain; neuroinflammation;	(Jia et al., 2007; Jia et al., 2011; Ross et al., 2012; Tan et al., 2019)
Taenia solium	No	Brain; Eyes; Spinal cord; Skeletal muscle; Skin; Heart;	Cognitive impairment; memory deficits;	Depression;	Cyst formation in the brain; inflammation of the brain; neuronal damage;	(Del Brutto et al., 2001; Ciampi de Andrade et al., 2010; Garcia et al., 2020; Garcia-Martinez et al., 2022)
Trichinella spiralis	No	Muscle; Stomach; Intestines; Lungs; Heart; Brain;	Behavioral disorders; cognitive disorders; altered mental status;	Depression; anxiety;	Inflammation of the brain; neurological impairment;	(Clausen et al., 1996; Taratuto and Venturiello, 1997; Rosca et al., 2021)