I was going to post the estimated percent of humans who have been exposed to Toxoplasmosis. I'm sure country to country it's different. But I found this:
http://www.amcgltd.com/archives/cat_science.html "Crazy Rats
New Scientist is carrying this report discussing new discoveries related to toxoplasmosis, cats, rats, and human schizophrenia:
Antipsychotic drugs can limit the behavioural abnormalities associated with a parasitic infection called toxoplasmosis in some rats – the condition causes them to become “suicidally” attracted to cats. The findings provide insight into a possible cause of schizophrenia, say the researchers behind the new study.
While the article's author does throw in a reference to everyone's favorite cat-blamer E. Fuller Torrey, the authors of the study take pains to point out in no way are they trying to implicate toxo infections as a cause of schizophrenia. From the article, it would appear more likely that the toxo parasite perhaps does something that manipulates at least some of the same brain areas, causing a disease which is quite similar. A subtle difference, but quite important for future research.
Plus the whole concept of a parasite that tricks its host into becoming attracted to a specific kind of predator just to complete its life cycle is just amazing. Sounds like something out of a Star Trek episode."
Plus the whole concept of a parasite that tricks its host into becoming attracted to a specific kind of predator just to complete its life cycle is just amazing. Sounds like something out of a Star Trek episode." The blog I linked to in post #1 has other examples of parasites changing the behavior of hosts.
It is an amazing phenomenon.
So what is the percentage of cats infected with the toxo parasite?? What is the transmission rate of infected litter boxes to unsuspecting litter box cleaning personnel?
If most of the schizophrenics are males of a certain age group, how can that be when I've never seen a man clean a litter box?? Have I lived a sheltered life???