Here’s a frightening thought: your housecat is host to a parasite that can infect you, and in so doing affect your brain function, making you more impulsive, promiscuous, less attentive, less intelligent, and possibly suicidal. Sounds like something straight out of science fiction, but unfortunately this parasite is so pervasive that liberal estimates say that over 8 million Australians could be infected, along with upwards of 60 million Americans. Worldwide estimates of infection range into the billions.

The disease is called Toxoplasma, and it starts in rats, goes to cats, and ends up inside your freaking brain, in what seems like a very demented spin on the circle of life. When a rat is infected with Toxoplasmosis it loses all aversion to the scent of cat urine, and in fact, becomes sexually aroused by the smell. It then seeks out areas filled with cat odors, and is predictably and promptly eaten by an unsuspecting feline.

猫は同様に感染していますが、その行動はほとんど変わっていません。症状の洗濯物リスト全体がこの疾患に関連しています。

• Laziness
• Sadness
• 高温
• Sudden reduction in weight
• Trouble breathing
• Reduced coordination
• 発作
• Weakness
• Paralysis
• Nausea
• Loose bowels
• Reduced appetite
• そして炎症


• However, the really scary part is how often the disease goes unnoticed because of a lack of these symptoms.
  
  Humans can catch the disease by being in close contact with cat feces which is where the ocysts, that is to say the toxoplasmosis progeny, are released after reproduction occurs inside the feline’s intestinal tract. It’s also common to catch the disease when in contact with undercooked foods, and is much more prevalent in countries with a tradition of eating such fare, like Brazil for example, which is estimated to have 67% of its total population infected with the parasite.
  
  So I know this is supposed to be a pet blog, and we’re mainly concerned with pet issues here, but are you ready to hear some really scary facts about this parasite’s effects on human behavior?
  
  トキソプラズマ症は、人間の脳の恐怖センターに影響を与え、権威に対する軽蔑、社会的なフォークウェイやモールの遵守、統合失調症のリスク増加、オートバイ事故で死亡するリスクの増加、感染者の自殺率の上昇、女性の性行為、および両性の神経症の頻度が高い。皮肉なことに、あなたはまた、サッカーをする可能性も高くなります。
  
  This psychotic protozoan is a major health concern for all of the above reasons, and is an excellent reminder to wash your hands after changing your cat litter and always before eating. Diagnosis for the disease is very difficult and not often undergone. It includes measuring t cell count in the blood stream as well as tracking the number of liver enzymes.
  
  免疫システムが弱い患者では、この病気は深刻なものであるため、治療は常に推奨されるわけではありません。これは、人間や猫にとっても同様です。それが治療されると、そのために使用された薬物のリストが長くありますが、実際の治療より予防の方法で利用可能な方が多くあります。
  
  だからあなたの毎日の微妙な恐怖の量があります。覚えておいて、あなたは常にあなたの行動をコントロールしているわけではありません。時には自然があなたの脳の中に奇妙なボディスクラップの怪物を植えて、あなたが愚かな決定を下すのを助ける。