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Long-suspected link between cats and schizophrenia could be real: new study.
This idea that cat ownership could be linked to schizophrenia risk was proposed in a 1995 study, with exposure to a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii suggested as a cause.
Some also link cat exposure to higher scores on scales that measure traits related to schizophrenia – which affects a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors – and psychotic-like experiences...
researchers keep finding more strange effects that infections may have.
Once inside our bodies, T. gondii can infiltrate the central nervous system and influence neurotransmitters. The parasite has been linked to personality changes, the emergence of psychotic symptoms, and some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia.
The new analysis of 17 studies found "a significant positive association between broadly defined cat ownership and an increased risk of schizophrenia-related disorders".
There is a need for more high-quality studies, based on large, representative samples to better understand cat ownership as a candidate risk-modifying factor for mental disorders and researchers agree that better and broader research is needed before we can make any firm interpretations
There's a lot to understand yet about toxoplasmosis, and much of it not nearly so dramatic an impact as schizophrenia. Some of it may be as innocuous as inclining people to see cats positively, as "cute" or childlike. There are morphological reasons too, I'm sure, but there is something a little intoxicated about how some people perceive cats in spite of their claws and teeth and odor and predation and parasites and so forth, a fondness they don't feel toward other animals with similar characteristics. I think toxo may play a part in that, as it similarly does for mice and rats upon which cats prey.
There was a Ted lecture on Youtube delivered by one parasitologist that went over some of the interesting research for example infected rats being less fearful of cats thus the likelihood of completing the cycle. She did a good job of keeping it real while still entertaining. Others are a little bit less restrained and more entertaining which is a turn off for me as I guess the target audience would be more into that though.
We are assessed our competency in being able to identify it microscopically. Even though it is a common parasite, it is one that is seldomly seen in the laboratory. I have never really seen it in all my years working although I did see one that I thought was a good candidate for it. They sometimes resemble a form of malaria. I don't remember if it was on a blood smear or body fluid slide but I only saw one and when I went back to look at it again I couldn't find it anymore. I decided to pass on it. One is more likely to see malaria under the microscope than toxoplasma.
Toxoplasmosis is mainly dealt with in obstetrical practice under the TORCH infections with T standing for Toxoplasmosis.
KITTEHS purposely infect the lowly Human, then they have slaves for life.
I assume my brain has been toxo-dosed from a very young age. I am fond of almost all
animals.....but when I see KITTEHS, they seem so cuddly and fluffeh, I want to be
extra kind and helpful to them.
No cat bashing! First it was "cat's will suck the breath from a baby". Now they cause schizophrenia. There is zero proof of any of this. Schizophrenia is widely thought to be caused by genetics, and brain makeup or chemistry combined w/ environmental issues. Not cats.
Serial killer David Berkowitz, aka Son of Sam, claimed to have acted upon orders from a neighborhood dog that was possessed by a demon. It all makes sense now! Clearly cats were behind the whole thing, turned the guy into a psycho killer, and used the dog as a scapegoat. Very clever.
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