Toxoplasmosis -- Not just for Cat Owners

[Roo]

I read this extremely fascinating and equally long article today. It's about a parasite that some scientists estimate infects 1/3 to 1/2 of the world's human population in its dormant state. It's main vehicle of transmission is undercooked meat and cat feces. You do not have to be a cat owner to be interested in this, or infected by this. Because most will not take 20 minutes to read the whole article, here are some interesting points:

Pathogens can and do affect human behavior in order to propagate themselves. One example is that studies have shown those to be in the very early stages of influenza infection seek out social interaction with other humans. People with late-stages AIDS have abnormal sexual cravings, as do people in the earliest stages of a herpes outbreak.

This parasite (toxoplasmosis) causes males to be introverted, suspicious of others, reckless, and display a preference for old, shabby, comfortable clothing (not kidding). Infected men are indifferent to or even drawn to the scent of cat urine. Infected woman present opposite characteristics: Extroversion, overly-trusting, repulsed by cat urine, and display a preference for expensive clothing (I know this sounds crazy).

Infected individuals are drawn to cats. Infected rats and mice lose their sense of fear around cats. This helps the pathogen's transmission to cats, as an infected individual will present itself to the parasite's host to complete its cycle of life.

Women who are shown pictures of infected men rate them as more attractive. It is also quite possible that this parasite is sexually transmitted.

And yes, this is all linked to schizophrenia as well as dopamine elevation, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and, possibly, heightened incidence of traffic accidents.

If this has caught your interest, and you have 20 or 30 minutes to spare, read on (Lxskllr I'm talking to you). There are two long pages.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...L300Y.facebook

[lxskllr]

This parasite (toxoplasmosis) causes males to be introverted, suspicious of others, reckless, and display a preference for old, shabby, comfortable clothing (not kidding). Infected men are indifferent to or even drawn to the scent of cat urine.

O.o That's me! On the bright side, chicks dig me :^D

I'll definitely give it a read. It sounds interesting. There's stuff like that that affects lower life forms more dramatically, making them do bizarre shit, just to complete the life cycle of a parasite. It's like some complex Rube Goldberg machine whih impossible mechanics, yet it exists.

Edit:
Good article Roo. That was very interesting.

[precious007]

Good you brought this up buddy !

Now I'd love to elaborate more on this seemingly "Deadly" bacteria that lies in the bodies of millions of people, and they don't even know it.

Some of you guays might remember me popping up with a thread that I might have Lyme Disease (borreliosis), well guess what? I still do believe based on the symptoms - didn't take the tests yet because I couldn't spare $1000 to have them done, but I might do here locally, even though I don't trust these guys in Romania ...

Anyways, just to make it a bit more clearer, I am no where near to not carrying about how I dress or anything like that but the borrelia bacteria can be quite nasty and severely damage the nervous system, bones, joints and lead to other serious illnesses in your late 40's - 60's. I'm saying this because toxoplasmosis, borreliosis and mycoplasma are very close related (and they're some kind of bacteria that are very intelligent, in fact the most intelligent bacteria ...

Mycoplasma and toxoplasma has insane capabilities - Mycoplasma refers to a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall.^[1] Without a cell wall, they are unaffected by many common antibiotics such as penicillin or otherbeta-lactam antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. They can be parasitic or saprotrophic.

Based on some of my symptoms I might have toxoplsamosis and mycoplasma as well (tests should tell).

All 3 bacteria (mycoplasma, toxoplasma and borrelia) affect an individual severely, the first symptoms are headaches and extreme daily fatigue and it can go on for decades (unfortunately most of the medical field is unable to tell what's wrong with the patient and he or she is being sent home with a completely different diagnose, obviously the wrong one..

Don't get me wrong - I've done hundreds of hours of medical research and reading for pure curiosity, actually a passion of mine -

introverted, suspicious of others, reckless, and display a preference for old, shabby, comfortable clothing (not kidding)

here's why - some people might become severely suspicious (paranoid in medical terms), reckless, or displaying a preference fr old, shabby clothing because toxoplasmosis, borreliosis, and mycoplasma has the ability to destroy the nervous system and end up the person with depression, bipolar I, bipolar II or other form of psychosis (that's the reason)

P.S Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a bacteria. In America, more than 60 million people are infected with the disease. Many of the people who are infected are not aware they have this single-celled parasite.




just saying ;-)

[Roo]

Lol precious how did I not foresee that if I posted an article about a pathogen you would reply that you are most likely severely afflicted by it? Sorry about your troubles brother.

[precious007]

Lol precious how did I not foresee that if I posted an article about a pathogen you would reply that you are most likely severely afflicted by it? Sorry about your troubles brother.

Nope

I didn't say I have toxoplasmosis

I said I highly suspect borreliosis -

lol

[Frosted]

I'm not right in the head but I reckon it's just down to toxobeingapaddyasmosis.

[Premium Parrots]

sure Frosted. And I've contacted a rare avian virus. I've got Cherpes.

[Monkey]

I have simianphyllis.