this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2024
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Health - Resources and discussion for everything health-related

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[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 27 points 2 months ago (1 children)

God only knows what else it does. This, Herpes, and Epstein Barr need more research.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It makes rodents lose fear of predators and become more likely to be eaten by a cat, which is where toxoplasmosis wants to live. It does this by literally changing the brain of the victim animal. Evidence is showing that the same effect happens in humans and we sometimes engage in riskier behavior as a result of infection.

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

On a more serious note, some think it might cause schizophrenia.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-022-00292-2

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Apparently it makes men, but not women enjoy the smell of cat piss (it makes women enjoy cat piss less).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210761/

[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 20 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Toxoplasma can be picked up anywhere an infected cat has defecated, such as the litter box, sandbox, garden or yard.

Nice

[–] ech@lemm.ee 3 points 2 months ago

Luckily they only walk around in their toilet and get it all over their skin-piercingly sharp claws. Wait...no. The opposite of lucky.

[–] gibmiser@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's because it is a fight we are not willing to wage. If it were dogs it would be the same.

[–] YarHarSuperstar@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

There are so many public health problems that we just ignore like this and it's fucking disgusting and terrifying