for all of you CAT lovers

woe is you


http://www.independent.co...isktaking-8390165.html

Cat parasite toxoplasma uses 'Trojan horse' to infect human brain and may cause suicidal thoughts and risk-taking

A food-borne parasite that infects domestic cats can get inside the human brain by commandeering special cells of the immune system which it uses as a Trojan horse to enter the central nervous system, a study has found.

Scientists believe they have finally discovered the mechanism that allows Toxoplasma gondii – a single-celled parasite – to pass from the human gut to the brain where it may cause behavioural changes.

Researchers have shown that the parasite can infect the dendritic white blood cells of the immune system causing them to secrete a chemical neurotransmitter that allows the infected cells, and the parasite, to cross the natural barrier protecting the brain.

Toxoplasma gondii can live in many different species but it can only complete its life cycle in cats, which secrete the parasite in their faeces. Studies have shown that toxoplasma affects the behaviour of rats and mice, making them more likely to be eaten by cats, thereby completing parasite’s complex life-cycle.

Latest figures released in September by the Food Standards Agency show about 1,000 people a day in Britain – 350,000 a year – are being infected with toxoplasma, probably from either direct contact with cats or by eating poorly-cooked meat or vegetables.



ah, the good stuff here:


However, recent studies have also suggested that toxoplasma may be a trigger for psychological disturbances in humans, including schizophrenia, although the research has fallen well short of showing a cause-and-effect.

Thanks, I needed that. People with cat allergies are affected by cat saliva. Cats constantly lick themselves, then we rub them. I had a cat parasite once from the beach. You could see it under the skin on top of my footIt moved slowly but would move about an inch a day. Now I always wear flip flops until I get to the beach proper. The dermitologyst loved it. She called in the whole office to look at it...

Leave it to a cat to cause someone to kill themself. I can believe it!

J

 
NO... I have it.
 
J

Almost looks like he's just upgraded iTunes to version 11.

 
He he, reminds me of JOG ON KITTIES and NOT ON OUR WATCH, PUSSIES
 
 
Marvellous

The evidence for toxoplasma and suicide is slim. Except for a bizarre but perfectly understandable change of behavior in rats, who carry the toxoplasma in their tissue and infect cats when they are eaten. Toxoplasma infected rats are attracted to cat pheromones, making it more likely that they will be caught and make the next generation of toxoplasma available to the world via cat feces.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0023277

slartabartfast


The evidence for toxoplasma and suicide is slim. Except for a bizarre but perfectly understandable change of behavior in rats, who carry the toxoplasma in their tissue and infect cats when they are eaten. Toxoplasma infected rats are attracted to cat pheromones, making it more likely that they will be caught and make the next generation of toxoplasma available to the world via cat feces.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0023277

 
 
 
i guess you  missed sharke's post.

trimph1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6utE5APd4wA

Man, that cat did NOT look happy!  Maybe it's saying it doesn't want to be abused any more?  "No! No! No!"