Scientists find stronger evidence for link between cat faeces and schizophrenia

Imperial College, London ^ | Wednesday 18 January 2006 | Tony Stephenson

[Slings and Arrows]

Congratulations on entering the service of your new Masters.

[benjibrowder]

An explanation finally for the wierdness of DUmmies.

[pollwatcher]

Schizophrenia aside, T. gondi also is associated with guilt-neurosis:

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

"A parasitic microbe commonly found in cats might have helped shape entire human cultures by manipulating the personalities of infected individuals, according to a new study.

Infection by a Toxoplasma gondii could make some individuals more prone to some forms of neuroticism and could lead to differences among cultures if enough people are infected, says Kevin Lafferty, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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...."

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there are also other interesting links there about parasites and behavior: like a worm that fills up it's grasshopper host and leads it to drown itself - where the worm releases itself to mate w/ other worms in the water!

[Loud Mime]

a friend of mine's mother got catscratch fever. It blinded her in one eye.