This is actually very disturbing. I read this article about cats in Britain and toxoplasma gondii. Apparently, this is a parasite that can be transmitted to humans from cats. The life cycle is here. The article states that people with taxoplasmosis are at greater risk of developing schizophrenia and manic depression.
Professor Jaroslav Flegr of Charles University in Prague...found the women infected with toxoplasma spent more money on clothes and were consistently rated as more attractive. "We found they were more easy-going, more warm-hearted, had more friends and cared more about how they looked," he said. "However, they were also less trustworthy and had more relationships with men."Now, I think that this is probably a common parasite that is scanned for before a feral or stray cat is offered back up for adoption by a shelter. But, people can be tested for an antibody to determine if they have been exposed to toxoplasma gondii.By contrast, the infected men appeared to suffer from the "alley cat" effect: becoming less well groomed undesirable loners who were more willing to fight. They were more likely to be suspicious and jealous. "They tended to dislike following rules," Flegr said.
Sounds like a joke doesn't it? Well, I thought so too. Apparently it's not. Well, I'd think twice about it if only Fox News reported it, but, it's been reported all over the place. So... is this something that I and other cat lovers should be worried about? I may have to be, since I'm a guy, but the girls probably don't have to worry :)
Posted by yakuza at June 11, 2005 08:18 PM | TrackBack