Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
cliffhanger
Trad climber
California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 31, 2008 - 06:33pm PT
|
A deadly parasite that cats spread thru their feces is a huge health threat. Why is the world so blase' about an infection that leaves permanent encysted parasites in billions of people's brains? Feces can turn to dust making airborne infection possible, esp a problem with feral cats.
"Toxoplasma's primary hosts are cats, the only hosts in which it reproduces sexually, but this protozoan infects a large array of mammals, including humans, with about 50 million infected people in the US.
Some scientists say the parasite has affected human behavior enough to change entire cultures.
"The germ seems to especially like infesting the brain, parasites hijacking the mind," Vyas said.
In humans this disease is rarely deadly, but in pregnant women, if they get infected during pregnancy, can provoke abortion and the infection can be risky for infants and persons with depressed immune systems.
Some connect Toxoplasma to schizophrenia and even neuroticism. "
http://news.softpedia.com/news/A-Human-Brain-Parasite-That-Cuts-Off-Fear-51014.shtml
http://www.livescience.com/animals/070402_cat_urine.html
http://www.webmesh.co.uk/rat3.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis
|
|
Anastasia
climber
Not there
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 06:46pm PT
|
Yup, ever since I started hanging out with that cat...
----------------------------------------
Anyway, they are working to figure out if the parasite sometimes causes schizophrenic behavior. Plus, once we isolate it and find a cure for the infection, I wonder what kind of personality changes it will cause once we eliminate it from their host.
AF
|
|
apples
Boulder climber
Atlanta, GA
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 06:50pm PT
|
The US has been less interested in monitoring humans compared to a lot of other countries.
Trying to kill toxoplasma oocysts is pretty impossible (sewage treatment will not kill them).
Toxo is a huge problem in sea otters on the California coastline.
|
|
Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 07:34pm PT
|
OH MY GOD!!! I bet they have a secret relationship with Nalgene bottles too! Like, if you drink from a Nalgene, the cysts suddenly spring to life and become small ninja cysts, in your brain. Your head will surely explode and you will die then! Stay away from Nalgenes! Oh yeah, and watch out for hot dogs too!
:)
|
|
Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 07:40pm PT
|
"Well, stop hoofing powdered cat sh#t.
Simple."
HAHAHAHA Nice one, stich! :)
edit: I wonder if there's a way to really activate those things and make them deadly...? 3 billion dead people is about the best thing that could happen to this planet right now!
|
|
pud
climber
Sportbikeville
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 07:59pm PT
|
Ive actually named many of my brain parasites.
Theres happy, goofy, grumpy, horny and many others. they all get along just fine.
Im taking my parasite ridden brain climbing, see ya!
|
|
bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:05pm PT
|
Hmmm....
"In a survey of different countries, Lafferty found that people living in those with higher rates of T. gondii infection scored higher on average for neuroticism, defined as an emotional or mental disorder characterized by high levels of anxiety, insecurity or depression."
and
"In populations where this parasite is very common, mass personality modification could result in cultural change," Lafferty said.
"After all, they add to our cultural diversity," he said.
Not all diversity is good, dude!!!
|
|
Nefarius
Big Wall climber
Fresno, CA
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:11pm PT
|
Sure, skip. Life is all pain - once you're gone, the pain is too.
:)
|
|
bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:14pm PT
|
Since, with infected rats, they lose their fear of natural enemies, I wonder what would happen to humans?
Would it affect us the same way and make us less fearful of people we know want to kill us?
Would it make us feel calm in situations around animals that are predators of humans, like that grizzley dude who got eaten because he was 'friendly' with them?
Interesting.
|
|
Lynne Leichtfuss
Social climber
valley center, ca
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:15pm PT
|
Pud, don't know who you are and it doesn't matter. You are so great at providing comic relief. If I were in HOly..wood (meant to spell it like that) I would find you a gig. Hilarious ! Like your post on I'm Bored. Classic !
|
|
WoodySt
Trad climber
Riverside
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:17pm PT
|
Now I understand San Francisco, Boulder, Santa Monica, Hollywood etc. I believe those areas have the highest population of felines in the US. Of course, I serve three myself; however, I've been making plans about retaking control around her
|
|
Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:52pm PT
|
Pussy is driving half the world's population crazy and you call it news?
|
|
jstan
climber
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 08:52pm PT
|
Picture this:
An alien expert on life forms studying bones on earth.
"I really don't know what got this one. Not lead, not trans fats. It could have been too much sex, but the McCain campaign button suggests maybe, just maybe............................ some sort of cognitive dysfunction."
|
|
Captain...or Skully
Big Wall climber
Yonder (out in the sagebrush)
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 09:11pm PT
|
Reckon all them Koreans were right...Cats are delicious!
That's what 'the voices' say, too.
|
|
Matt
Trad climber
primordial soup
|
|
|
Jul 31, 2008 - 09:15pm PT
|
LOL karl
(ahhhhh! my brain is infected!)
OT:
what to vegan zombies eat?
GRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNSSSSSSSSSSS
|
|
Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
|
|
http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/Pets/India.htm
Animal companion to you know who. Or should I say, issuer of orders to you know who? This explains a lot. Although on the evidence, toxoplasmosis clearly can't be ruled out, and maybe some other things too.
Maybe Jennie's ideas about cats have some validity after all.
|
|
cliffhanger
Trad climber
California
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2008 - 10:30am PT
|
From Wikipedia:
Notable people with toxoplasmosis
* Sebastian Coe (British middle distance runner)
* Martina Navrátilová (tennis player) retired from a competition in 1982 with symptoms of a mystery 'virus' that were later found to be due to toxoplasmosis[37]
* Arthur Ashe developed neurological problems from toxoplasmosis (and was later found to be HIV-positive)[38]
* Leslie Ash contracted toxoplasmosis in the second month of pregnancy[39]
* François, comte de Clermont, Dauphin of France and Orléans pretender to the French throne. Both he and his younger sister, Princess Blanche, are mentally disabled due to congenital toxoplasmosis.[citation needed]
* Louis Wain was a prominent cat artist who later developed schizophrenia, which some believe was due to toxoplasmosis resulting from his prolonged exposure to cats.[40]
------------------------------------------------------------
"Offering a partial explanation to a mysterious decline in southern sea otter population, scientists have established a strong body of circumstantial evidence linking cats to a lethal otter disease."
http://www.oar.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/spot_otter.html
----------------------------------------------
On Animal Planet last night was a clip of a guy climbing into an African lion enclosure. A big male lion quickly had him pinned but did nothing else. A few gun shots in the air scared the lion off and the man escaped. They ascribe his actions to mental disturbances. Perhaps Toxoplasmosis?
USDA view:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/docs.htm?docid=11013
|
|
AbeFrohman
Trad climber
new york, NY
|
|
"depending on the antibody concentration, the probability of the birth of a boy can increase up to a value of 0.72 ... which means that for every 260 boys born, 100 girls are born." The study also notes a mean rate of 0.60 to 0.65 (as opposed to the normal 0.51) for Toxoplasma positive mothers."
So if a woman sniffs enough cat sh!t, she increases the chances of having a boy?
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!