6632 - Toxoplasma gondii and cats

These are a few snippets from the Wikipedia article. It's a long read but contains a lot of good information, especially if you have a cat.

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Toxoplasma gondii is a species of parasitic alveolate that causes toxoplasmosis. Found worldwide, T. gondii is capable of infecting virtually all warm-blooded animals, but members of the cat family (Felidae) are the only known definitive hosts in which the parasite may undergo sexual reproduction.

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In humans infection is generally asymptomatic, but particularly in infants and those with weakened immunity, T. gondii may lead to a serious case of toxoplasmosis.

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The life cycle of T. gondii may be broadly summarized into two components: a sexual component that occurs only within cats (felids, wild or domestic), and an asexual component that can occur within virtually all warm-blooded animals, including humans, cats, and birds.

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Tissue cysts can be maintained in host tissue for the lifetime of the animal.

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In warm-blooded animals, such as brown rats, sheep, and dogs, T. gondii has also been shown to be sexually transmitted. Although T. gondii can infect, be transmitted by, and asexually reproduce within humans and virtually all other warm-blooded animals, the parasite can sexually reproduce only within the intestines of members of the cat family (felids). Felids are therefore the definitive hosts of T. gondii; all other hosts (such as human or other mammals) are intermediate hosts.

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No approved human vaccine exists against Toxoplasma gondii. Research on human vaccines is ongoing.

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Looking at humans, studies using the Cattell's 16 Personality Factor questionnaire found that infected men scored lower on Factor G (superego strength/rule consciousness) and higher on Factor L (vigilance) while the opposite pattern was observed for infected women. Such men were more likely to disregard rules and were more expedient, suspicious, and jealous. On the other hand, women were more warm-hearted, outgoing, conscientious, and moralistic.

Published research has also indicated that T. gondii infection could potentially promote changes in a person's political beliefs and values. Those who are infected with the parasite tend to exhibit a higher degree of "us versus them" thinking.

For the whole article*** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii