So Happppeeee!!!
Posted on 08/01/2006 6:09:00 PM PDT by blam
Parasite that makes cat-lovers neurotic
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
(Filed: 02/08/2006)
Cat-lovers may be more neurotic than other people as a result of a feline parasite that could ultimately also be responsible for international cultural differences, according to a radical theory published today.
More than a quarter of the world's population - ranging from about seven per cent of the UK population to almost 70 per cent in Brazil - is infected with Toxoplasma -gondii, a relative of the malaria bug, which also infects rats, giving them a suicidal attraction to cats.
"Some of us have a parasite in our brains that does its best to change our personalities," writes Dr Kevin Lafferty, of the University of California at Santa Barbara in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology.
"In populations where this parasite is very common, mass personality modification could result in cultural change."
He suggests that attitudes to ego, money, material wealth, work and rules may be affected by the parasite.
Those infected by T. gondii are prone to guilt. It has been shown that, in rats at least, this helps the parasite to complete its life-cycle.
An infected rat's behaviour alters so that it becomes more active, less cautious and therefore more likely to be eaten by a cat.
Dr Lafferty suggested that climate affects the persistence of Toxoplasma and therefore that there are cultural ramifications. The parasite's eggs live longer in humid, low-altitude regions that have infrequent freezing and thawing.
Earlier research at Imperial College London suggested that the parasite may also trigger schizophrenia. It showed that anti--psychotic drugs used to treat the illness prevented changes in the behaviour of rats that were infected with the parasite.
Only homosexual rats.
That's for sure. Nobody and nothing owns a cat -- it is supremely supreme.
Was it infected?
So is August 1 in the UK the same as April 1 here?
Yep, we're crazy alright!
BTW, Lainey turned one-year old today :)
ALMOST as cute as the mother tiger who adopted a litter of piglets as her own, who were then dressed appropriately by the zoo staff :-)
Perhaps not Toxoplasmosis.
Think retrovirus.
Aww, that is too cute.
Another view of Momma and adopted kids in their stylish (Dior or Armani?) outfits
liberalism [in its contemporary meaning; "leftism" would be both better and more precise] causes parasitism, and is reinforced by it.
That at least explains JudyJudyJudy. No, wait. That probably explains you and the Boyz from Bangkok.
LOL!
Cool post!
She just fattening them up for a snack and perhaps dinner in a year or so.
Ha!...Parasite makes mice become trolls at FR and get Zotted by Viking Kitties.
Cats: They're just waiting for the go ahead.
Ping. Does this explain troll behavior?
"infected with Toxoplasma -gondii, a relative of the malaria bug, which also infects rats, giving them a suicidal attraction to cats. "
Not a zot thread. Shoulda made that clear.
...yeah I remember a cartoon that went that way..
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