Cat parasite causes psychiatric symptoms in humans?

[Dr Mordrid]

We may finally have an explanation for LLC

http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060803_tgondii_culture.html

Scientists estimate that the parasite has infected about 3 billion people, or about half of the human population. Studies by researchers in the Czech Republic have suggested T. gondii might have subtle but long-term effects on its human hosts. The parasite is thought to have different, and often opposite effects in men versus women, but both genders appear to develop a form of neuroticism called "guilt proneness."

Other studies have also found links between the parasite and schizophrenia. T. gondii infection is known to damage astrocytes, support cells in the brain that are also affected during schizophrenia. Pregnant women with high levels of antibodies to the parasite are also more likely to give birth to children who will develop the disorder.

In light of such studies, Lafferty wondered whether high rates of T. gondii infection in a culture could shift the average personality of its individuals.

[Jammrock]

I always knew cats were evil.

[lowlifecat]

Doh! that was SUPPOSED to be our secret weapon.

Doc; the truth is more evil an sinistar than you might think... look what happened to the last person who tried to understand. SD used to be tall, blond, blue eyed and smart. After me he now short, brown, hairy and dyslexic.

DOn't say i didn't warn you, the truth is I used to be *gasp* a thespian!

Despite its association with neuroticism, Lafferty doesn't think all of the cat parasite's effects on human culture are bad.

"After all, they add to our cultural diversity," he said

now how is that for multiculterism

[Dr Mordrid]

Don't tell KvH

[lowlifecat]

on a more serious note; just how many diseases are there out there that have jumped to humans because of domestication?

[Dr Mordrid]

Quite a few, plus there are ~ 200 "zoonotic" infections that can be transferred one way or another and ~75% of the harmful organisms and viruses identified in the past 25 years are thought to have "jumped" from animals to humans.

ex: chimps (HIV, by way of the monkeys they eat), bats (West Nile, SARS, Coronavirus, Marburg and Ebola) etc.

Many conditions are a combination of a persons genetic predisposition and their bodies immune response to a foreign organism, some of which are zoonotic..

[Brian Ellis]

On a more mundane note, our vet told us that cats are the major vector for ringworm. Most of them display no symptoms but simply carry the fungus spores in their fur. A study revealed that 98% of cats carry spores, which can (and do) infect other species, including man. Only about 5% of the cats actually have a detectable ringworm mycosis. However, there is also a school developing that there are three varieties of ringworm, possibly mutated, one of which only is detectable in the standard fluorescence test in the fruiting stage. Researchers are currently studying the DNA.