posted on February 11, 2006 11:52:45 AM
This is rather interestiing. A parasite that employs alteration in instinctual reactions in the brain for it's own ends.
Half of the world's human population is infected with Toxoplasma. Parasites in the body - and the brain. Remember that.
Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite found in the guts of cats; it sheds eggs that are picked up by rats and other animals that are eaten by cats. Toxoplasma forms cysts in the bodies of the intermediate rat hosts, including the brain. Since cats don't want to eat dead, decaying prey, Toxoplasma takes the evolutionarily sound course of being a "good" parasite, leaving the rats perfectly healthy. Or are they?
(Toxoplasma gondii)
Oxford scientists discovered that the minds of the infected rats have been subtly altered. In a series of experiments, they demonstrated that healthy rats will prudently avoid areas that have been doused with cat urine. In fact, when scientists test anti-anxiety drugs on rats, they use a whiff of cat urine to induce neurochemical panic. However, it turns out that Toxoplasma-ridden rats show no such reaction. In fact, some of the infected rats actually seek out the cat urine-marked areas again and again. The parasite alters the mind (and thus the behavior) of the rat for its own benefit.
If the parasite can alter rat behavior, does it have any effect on humans? Dr. E. Fuller Torrey (Associate Director for Laboratory Research at the Stanley Medical Research Institute) noticed links between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia in human beings, approximately three billion of whom are infected with T. gondii:
* Toxoplasma infection is associated with damage to astrocytes, glial cells which surround and support neurons. Schizophrenia is also associated with damage to astrocytes.
* Pregnant women with high levels of antibodies to Toxoplasma are more likely to give birth to children who will develop schizophrenia.
* Human cells raised in petri dishes, and infected with Toxoplasma, will respond to drugs like haloperidol; the growth of the parasite stops. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic, used to treat schizophrenia.
Dr. Torrey got together with the Oxford scientists, to see if anything could be done about those parasite-controlled rats who were driven to hang around cat urine-soaked corners (waiting for cats). According to a recent press release, it turns out that haloperidol restores the rat's healthy fear of cat urine. In fact, antipsychotic drugs were as effective as pyrimethamine, a drug that specifically eliminates Toxoplasma.
Are parasites like Toxoplasma subtly altering human behavior? As it turns out, science fiction writers have been thinking about whether or not parasites could alter a human being's behavior, or even take control of a person. In his 1951 novel The Puppet Masters, Robert Heinlein wrote about alien parasites the size of dinner plates that took control of the minds of their hosts, flooding their brains with neurochemicals. In this excerpt, a volunteer strapped to a chair allows a parasite to be introduced; the parasite rides him, taking over his mind. Under these conditions, it is possible to interview the parasite; however, it refuses to answer until zapped with a cattle prod.
He reached past my shoulders with a rod. I felt a shocking, unbearable pain. The room blacked out as if a switch had been thrown.. I was split apart by it; for the moment I was masterless.
The pain left, leaving only its searing memory behind. Before I could speak, or even think coherently for myself, the splitting away had ended and I was again safe in the arms of my master...
The panic that possessed me washed away; I was again filled with an unworried sense of well being...
"What are you?"
"We are the people... We have studied you and we know your ways... We come," I went on, "to bring you peace.. and contentment-and the joy of-of surrender." I hesitated again; "surrender" was not the right word. I struggled with it the way one struggles with a poorly grasped foreign language.
"The joy," I repeated, "-the joy of . . .nirvana." That was it; the word fitted. I felt like a dog being patted for fetching a stick; I wriggled with pleasure.
Still not sure that parasites can manipulate the behavior of host organisms? Consider these other cases:
* The lancet fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum forces its ant host to attach to the tips of grass blades, the easier to be eaten. The fluke needs to get into the gut of a grazing animal to complete its life cycle.
* The fluke Euhaplorchis californiensis causes fish to shimmy and jump so wading birds will grab them and eat them, for the same reason.
* Hairworms, which live inside grasshoppers, sabotage the grasshopper's central nervous system, forcing them to jump into pools of water, drowning themselves. Hairworms then swim away from their hapless hosts to continue their life cycle.
Not all science-fictional parasites are harmful; read about the Crosswell tapeworm from Brian Aldiss' 1969 story Super-Toys Last All Summer Long, which keeps people who overeat from becoming obese. Not to mention robots based on parasites. Read press release on evidence for link between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia, Suicidal grasshoppers. Story via blogger Carl Zimmer and his readers.
(Story submitted 2/7/2006)
I have not researched this at all. This is off the net FWIW.
Probably the problem liberals have, though.
__________
The Islamofascist fig-puckers are fighting to spread their culture and religion, and to destroy ours
posted on February 12, 2006 06:51:04 AM
This explains the unusually idiotic behavior that Bush displays. The islamicistus recruitre parasite, and makus darichrichernpoorpoorer bug have apparently taken control of his mind to serve it's own end. I no longer blame him. It's not his fault, he is sick. We must find a cure.
posted on February 12, 2006 11:27:34 AM
:::* Pregnant women with high levels of antibodies to Toxoplasma are more likely to give birth to children who will develop schizophrenia.:::
Most ob/gyns will tell a pregnant woman not to clean the cat litter box during their pregnancy because toxoplasma can cause spontaneous miscarriages and birth defects. The toxoplasma is not only from touching the fecal matter but can be airborne in the dust of the used litter material.
posted on February 12, 2006 11:34:36 AM
well...........the next time my wife gets pregnant,I will tell her to stay out of the litter box,and use the toilet instead...........
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Beauty is only a light switch away
[ edited by classicrock000 on Feb 12, 2006 11:35 AM ]
posted on February 12, 2006 04:20:51 PM
Aww you must be really a piece of work that you would emulate others posting on here. Can no longer be original?
Ron
"If you can't refute the words, accuse the poster of being someone else."
posted on February 12, 2006 04:29:16 PM
Get some help, go see if you can emulate a real man somewhere. geesh! Look at you, the only one you can take on for a fight is a woman. ya sissy. oh and your gf spilled your beans in case you wanted to know. She just had to come talk to me even tho I could two give sh* about her or you.
posted on February 12, 2006 11:46:45 PM
Dear Lord, I don't try to be overly bothersome, but this would reeeeally upset classic's snowless retirement dreams. So, if you could see a way.........
Amen.
__________
The Islamofascist fig-puckers are fighting to spread their culture and religion, and to destroy ours
