08-01-2006, 11:24 AM
Parasite That Makes Cat-Lovers Neurotic
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 8-2-2006 | Roger Highfield
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.
Story Here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jht...toxo02.xml
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 8-2-2006 | Roger Highfield
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.
Story Here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jht...toxo02.xml
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Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times".
Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times".