"Crazy cat-lady syndrome" is a term coined by news organizations to describe scientific findings that link the parasite Toxoplasma gondii to several mental disorders and behavioral problems.
The compulsive hoarding of cats, a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), has long been associated with "crazy cat ladies". Mass media has drawn on this stereotype to coin the term crazy cat lady syndrome to refer to the association between T. gondii and psychiatric conditions.
The single-celled toxoplasmosis gondii (or toxoplasma, for short), infects more than a third of humanity, yet this parasite confounds those trying to tease out its effects on behavior — particularly human behavior that society often labels as 'crazy cat people. '
Bizarrely, new research raises that question, finding that the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which lives in cats, actually makes cats attractive — rather than scary — to their natural prey (in this case, rats).
No, you do not have to give up your cat. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the parasite. It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur.
About 20 percent of the American public is infected with Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can infect birds and most other animals but that reproduces sexually only in cats. The parasite typically remains dormant in people after an initial few days of mild flu-like symptoms, said Dr.
An extraordinary new study suggest that scenario may actually be playing out with one of the most common parasites in the world, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which potentially manipulates its human host's appearance to be more sexually attractive.
A new study led by the University of Turku in Finland has found that Toxoplasma Gondii – a sexually-transmitted parasite that up to half of world's population carries – may make people look more attractive to the opposite sex.
Cats can't have autism, but they can be diagnosed with other conditions, and like humans and other animals, some cats have special needs. Some special-needs cats have mental impairments which may result from birth defects, illness, or accidents. Some cats even have Down syndrome-type symptoms.
People can be infected by: Accidental ingestion of oocysts after cleaning a cat's litter box when the cat has shed Toxoplasma in its feces. Accidental ingestion of oocysts after touching or ingesting anything that has come into contact with a cat's feces that contain Toxoplasma.
Toxoplasmosis is a common infection that you can catch from the poo of infected cats, or infected meat. It's usually harmless but can cause serious problems in some people.
Most healthy people recover from toxoplasmosis without treatment. Persons who are ill can be treated with a combination of drugs such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid.
I've always heard — and I have no idea where I got this from — that the tipping point to be a crazy cat lady was single with three cats. I guess at that point, the likelihood of a man deciding to take not only you, but your three cats, in his life is a fairly large hurdle.
Although the word ailurophile has only been documented in English since the early 1900s, ailurophiles have been around for thousands of years.
According to experts, an individual must not have more than five cats. If you really love cats, six is the maximum. There is no going more than this amount. This is as it is impossible for any person or even a household to care for more than six cats.
In the human host, the parasites form tissue cysts, most commonly in skeletal muscle, myocardium, brain, and eyes; these cysts may remain throughout the life of the host.
Across all study subjects, toxoplasmosis-positive individuals scored significantly higher on scores of anger and aggression. The team noted a link between toxoplasmosis and increased impulsivity, but when adjusted for aggression scores, this link became non-significant.
In the brain, Toxoplasma gains entry by traversing across endothelial cells. Once inside the brain, the parasite forms tissue cysts within neurons. Immune pressure from a variety of central nervous system resident and peripheral cells prevents cyst reactivation and infection of non-neuronal cells.
Nausea or vomiting. Gas or bloating. Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus) Rash or itching around the rectum or vulva.
The signs of a parasite are often caused by the toxins that it releases into the human bloodstream. Here are the most common symptoms: Unexplained constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, nausea or other symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You traveled internationally and got diarrhea on your trip.
Cats get Toxoplasma infection by eating infected rodents, birds or other small animals, or anything contaminated with feces from another cat that is shedding the microscopic parasite in its feces. After a cat has been infected, it can shed the parasite for up to two weeks.
Safe food preparation and hand washing are the most important things you can do to help prevent toxoplasmosis. Follow safe freezing and cooking practices before eating meat. Peel fruits and vegetables or wash thoroughly before eating.
The most common symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Other symptoms may occur depending upon whether the infection is acute or chronic, and the location of the parasite in the body.