Toxoplasma Gondii Parasite “May” Affect Human Behavior

Last Updated on April 4, 2020

No, it certainly won’t turn you into a zombie but it can affect the way things “appear” to you. While it is growing in infection numbers, there is no reason to get rid of your cat over it! Yet, the latest study may scare you.

Past Studies

Studies in the past have been done showing that this parasite can affect a person’s personality by slowing their reaction time down or making them want to take more risks. Within these studies, they have linked this parasite to actually cause psychotic disturbances in humans like suicide, self-harm, and even schizophrenia. Cats who are infected are also more likely to have mental illnesses such as depression, social/separation anxiety, and even become bipolar.

Latest Studies

The latest study done involves chimps who were infected with T. Gondii and this is where it gets weird. The chimps actually became less fearful of leopards and were actually drawn to their scent. The other study was done prior to this one involved mice and mice who were infected actually approached cats and hung out where the felines would urinate and defecate.

Do Not Fear

Now, you may be thinking something bad or looking at your cat with a pitchfork right now but in a healthy human, this parasite can’t survive much less make it to the brain! If you want to take precautions, use natural parasite cleansers on a regular basis, eat right, and get plenty of vitamin D3 (SUNLIGHT!) and be sure your cats join you. Parasites hate sunlight.