Posted on 01/22/2006 4:38:30 PM PST by Virginia-American
Researchers have found stronger evidence for a link between a parasite in cat faeces and undercooked meat and an increased risk of schizophrenia.
Research published today in Procedings of the Royal Society B, shows how the invasion or replication of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in rats may be inhibited by using anti-psychotic or mood stabilising drugs.
The researchers tested anti-psychotic and mood stabilising medications used for the treatment of schizophrenia on rats infected with T. gondii and found they were as, or more, effective at preventing behaviourial alterations as anti-T. gondii drugs. This led them to believe that T. gondii may have a role in the development of some cases of schizophrenia.
Dr Joanne Webster from Imperial College London, and lead researcher said: "Although we are certainly not saying that exposure to this parasite does definitely lead to the development of schizophrenia, this and previous studies do show there may be a link in a few individuals, providing new clues for how we treat toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia."
Previous epidemiological and neuropathological studies have indicated some cases of schizophrenia may be associated with environmental factors, such as exposure to the parasite T. gondii. At the same time several of the medications used to treat schizophrenia have been shown to posess anti-parasitic and in particular anti-T.gondii properties. This led the authors to suspect that the anti-psychotic activity of these medications may be due to their inhibition of these parasites.
When the rats were given Haloperidol, an anti-psychotic, and Valporic acid, a mood stabiliser, the behavioural symptoms of T.gondii were reduced. They found the drugs were able to limit the suicidal feline attraction by which the rats became less aware of the dangers of cats.
Dr Joanne Webster added: "By showing that drugs used to treat schizophrenia affect the parasite T. gondii, this does provide further evidence for its role in the development of some cases schizophrenia. It may be that anti-psychotic drugs work partly by parasite inhibition, and this could lead to new medicine and treatment combinations."
The researchers have already begun human clinical trials using anti-T. gondii treatments as adjunct therapies for schizophrenia with researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
Notes to editors:
1. Parasites as causative agents of human affective disorders? The impact of anti-psychotic, mood stabiliser and anti-parasite medication on Toxoplasma gondiis ability to later host behaviour, Procedings of the Royal Society B.
2. Consistently rated in the top three UK university institutions, Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students (11,000) and staff (6,000) of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that enhance the quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.
I couldn't say. It's probably a safe bet that no one knows for sure, but we know about toxoplasmosis and that is enough for me to send up the warning flag about other potential complications.
I had cat scratch fever once. Almost died from it, but didn't. Maybe I'm immune; I dunno. I now have 3 cats.
hilarious!
What is the schizo capital? Truly, I'd've guessed NYC.
The blog I linked to in post #1 has other examples of parasites changing the behavior of hosts.
It is an amazing phenomenon.
L O L
Uh-oh...
I don't know, haven't kept up with it. Used to be suspect that a lot of Irish were prone to it...
I wonder why that is. I guess dogs have been domesticated longer, so we've adapted to each other.
It was my impression that cattle were the worst: Smallpox and TB, and I believe a few others, were originally cattle diseases.
My guess is that schizophrenia is like cancer, a whole lot of different things with similar symptoms.
I'm pretty sure there is a genetic component.
I can't remember the name of the chemical, but "Silence of the Lambs" described something as being the "smell of schizophrenia" (paraphrasing). This leads to the hypothesis that there is a metabolic disorder with the same symptoms.
And the thought just struck me, if dogs can sniff out cancer, why not at least some schizophrenia?
Insert "9 Lives" joke here.
I am honored to be included on this list. I do so hope to live up to your expectations...
A real LOL!! Glad I just finished muh beer (as finished as the Panthers).
Silence of the Lambs, chapter 22 -
"You believe he's a catatonic schizoid?"
"Yes. Can you smell his sweat? That peculiar goatish odor is trans-3-methyl-2 hexonic acid. Remember it, it's the smell of schizophrenia."
Spelled wrong in book. Should be trans-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid. But there's no difference in the amounts in non-schizophrenics vs. schizophrenics:
http://www.jlr.org/cgi/content/abstract/14/4/495
However, it is a chemical in armpit sweat, so it may have been associated with schizophrenics because they weren't taking care of themselves.
Info about odors associated with other diseases, from:
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/simianline/AnosmiaFacts1.htm
"Doctors have always relied on their sense of smell to diagnosis diseases, especially in the days before sophisticated technology. Typhoid fever is said to smell of freshly baked bread; diabetes of acetone, sweetish nail polish, or sugar; the plague of mellow apples; measles of freshly plucked feathers; yellow fever of the butcher shop; nephritis of ammonia; scrofula of stale beer; liver failure of ammonia; isovaleric acidemia of sweaty feet. “Menses breath” comes from a change in sulfur compounds in the body during a woman’s menstrual cycle. Patients with liver cirrhosis have aliphatic acids in the breath, while di- and tri-methylamine can be found in the breath of people with failing kidneys. A signature cocktail of alkanes and benzene derivatives are exhaled by people with lung cancer."
Zero, if you keep your kitties inside. Unless you have mouses in your houses.
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