Tech | May 03, 2009 | 22 comments

Cat Parasite Affects Human Personalities

source: http://a.abcnews.com/Technology/DyeHard/Story?id=2288095&page=1

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The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has been transmitted indirectly from cats to roughly half the people on the planet, and it has been shown to affect human personalities in different ways.

Research has shown that women who are infected with the parasite tend to be warm, outgoing and attentive to others, while infected men tend to be less intelligent and probably a bit boring. But both men and women who are infected are more prone to feeling guilty and insecure.

Other researchers have linked the parasite to schizophrenia. In an adult, the symptoms are like a mild form of flu, but it can be much more serious in an infant or fetus. Oxford University researchers believe high levels of the parasite leads to hyperactivity and lower IQs in children.
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22 comments // Cat Parasite Affects Human Personalities

  • wally60
    • 0
      wally60  

    • i have had cats forever my twin girls are seniors in
      college my son has a 4.0 i run my on business.
      sounds like a bunch of bull!!

    • 2 years ago
  • VoyagerFilms
    • 0
      VoyagerFilms  

    • This isn't new information to those who wish to develop means to affect the change they desire.

      What other parasites and methods exist which affects us?

    • 2 years ago
  • s_peak
    • 0
      s_peak  

    • I heard about something like this a couple years ago, but what I had read was saying that the parasite was almost symbiotic and, in men and women, made them like cats (more). A survival skill of the parasite perhaps. I looked up some other articles, and I guess new information is showing that it may be detrimental? Bummer. For a while it seemed so cool.

    • 2 years ago
  • Kuklamania
    • 0
      Kuklamania  

    • "Research has shown that women who are infected with the parasite tend to be warm, outgoing and attentive to others"
      and whats wrong with this?

    • 2 years ago
  • 02
    • 0
      02  
    • Kuklamania:

      You catch it and get dumb. Maybe marry them and work at some dumb job while waltzing them around the shopping malls - and making sure you are "attentive".

    • 2 years ago
  • 02
    • 0
      02  

    • The idea that something like this can influence the way in which an infected host smells in order to have it eaten, this is very strange.

      You get infected and then you are attracted to the scent of a hungry lion.

      A good aspect for a movie plot.

    • 2 years ago
  • 02
    • 0
      02  
    • 02:

      Yeah, we have the mad scientists creating nano-bots that mimic the bug. They control people like zombies in some diabolic plot.

      What would be the best use of such technology?

    • 2 years ago
  • marlaynek
    • 0
      marlaynek  

    • I do not think this is new news, It has been widley known not to handle litter while pregnant. I also think it has to do with the fecal matter only, but not sure. Defn not a reason to hate cats.

    • 2 years ago
  • cybexg
    • 0
      cybexg  

    • There are few, if any, bad pets. There are only (for the most part) bad owners. I would suggest your experience w/ a cat is mostly your doing.

      I have 5 cats that come when called, that only use their box and I think I'm not too stupid.

      I do however, keep their box very clean, show them lots (LOTS) of love and affection, feed and water them well, and have done my best to arrange my life and home to accommodate their special needs. A pet is a HUGE responsibility that not everyone can live up to.

      Also - forgot to mention. They are all neutered and are rescue cats (as a side note, my wife now prohibits me from going to any animal rescue event or even looking out the windows...lol).

    • 2 years ago
  • marlaynek
    • 0
      marlaynek  
    • cybexg:

      you are so right. Animals are as good as their owner. My fam runs the local animal shelter, it is heartbreaking to see what people actually do to pets, like they are disposable. Very sad. Good for you and your ethical ownership.

    • 2 years ago
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  

    • Just another reason on the long reason to hate cats.

      Cats are jerks.

      They pee in your instrument case, they poop behind the couch, they don't come when you call them, and now, they infect your brain and make you stupid.

    • 2 years ago
  • bansheewail
  • Valence
  • asherp
  • VoyagerFilms
  • idealist
  • ddelazan
  • VoyagerFilms
  • funnicus
  • extemporaneous
  • sickntired
    • 0
      sickntired  
    • extemporaneous:

      I think you could sell this story to CNN! Just wait until the Swine Influenza hysteria calms down. This could be the next "Pandemic". It’s amazing what people will believe, the power of suggestion is Magnanimous.

    • 2 years ago
  • Get_Cape
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