Thursday, November 1, 2012

Toxoplasma gondii: Mouse parasite that makes it attracted to cats



            Toxoplasma gondii, like the other parasites that I have researched and talked about on this blog, somehow effect or modify the behavior of it host. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that affects mammals (Berenreiterova´ et al. 2011).  Although the parasite is study mainly through mice, it can infect humans and must reproduce sexually in the intestines of a cat (Berenreiterova´ et al. 2011).  Toxoplasma gondii develops in the brain of a mouse where it works to alter the mouse’s behavior (Berenreiterova´ et al. 2011).  One way the parasite manipulates the behavior of the mouse is by signaling the mouse to be attracted to the smell of a cat, whereas a mouse would normally be repulsed by the scent of the cat in fear of being attacked (Berenreiterova´ et al. 2011). This change is behavior results in the mouse being caught and eaten by the cat and thus allows the parasite to reproduce in the cat’s intestines thus renewing the cycle (Berenreiterova´ et al. 2011). Scientists have not been able to figure out how exactly Toxoplasma gondii is able to manipulate the mouse’s behavior this way (Berenreiterova´ et al. 2011).
            It is believed that Toxoplasma gondii affects a quarter of the human population (“How Different Strains...” 2011). Scientist believes that it alters the human brain effecting behavior and is responsible for the psychological disorder schizophrenia (“How Different Strains...” 2011).  Scientists believe that the parasite affects the brain causing hallucinations however; more research needs to be done on this subject (“How Different Strains...” 2011).



Berenreiterova´, Miroslava, Jaroslav Flegr, Ales A. Kube, and Pavel Neˇmec . The Distribution of Toxoplasma gondii Cysts in the Brain of a Mouse with Latent Toxoplasmosis: Implications for the Behavioral Manipulation Hypothesis . PLos One. 2011. P 1-14.

“How Different Strains of Parasite Infection Affect Behavior Differently”. Science Daily. March 22 2011. Available: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110321203437.htm.

2 comments:

  1. I've heard of this being transmitted from cats to humans via cat feces. If I recall correctly, it was possibly responsible for several car accidents where drivers were losing muscle and motor control behind the wheel. Interesting stuff.

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  2. Yes! I actually did my posting right below this one on the same parasite. Also, I came across that article while researching Toxoplasma. The article discussed the idea that effects of latent toxoplasmasis infection rather than acute toxoplasmiasis posed a higher risk for traffic accidents. This is a scary and potentially overlooked problem.

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