Invasion of the brain snatchers

PM, Atlanta GA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:13:03 GMT

Is there any hope for a cure for T. Gondii? Certain members of my family have long had an obsession with cats and also developed mental problems. In some cases, they go out of their way to avoid cleaning up after the cats which may be a manifestation of trying to make it easier for the rodents -who DO come around- to feed, get caught, and continue the cycle.

The symptoms are just so eerie and familiar. It makes everything make sense.

It seems possible that there might actually be a cause or a reason for this behavior, but what about a cure?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Tim Rommes, Washington, UT — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 02:39:43 GMT

The multi-species loops are amazing. Can't wait to see the debate between "God did it" and "Random Chance."

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Lorne, Phoenix, AZ — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:47:40 GMT

There is so much we still don't know.
Thanks for filling us in on this little (but interesting piece).

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Lanie, St. Andrews, Scotland — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:02:36 GMT

Zombie apocalypse gets started by cats? Maybe they're bad luck after all!

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Hunter, Jacksonville Fl — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:48:20 GMT

I can not say thank you for this column enough. Every time I check msnbc and see you in the headlines, I know it's going to be a good day of thought. The complexity of this subject in contrast to the simplicity of the concept seems to make life mean something on a bizarre level. You can see how your life is affected (in some cases drastically) by something you would never had known existed without science. Whether you like it or not or how individual you want to feel, we and everything around us are eternally connected. How can we take this knowledge and manipulate bacteria to go in and mend fences in our brains versus create holes in the fence? I'm not overly familiar with recently discovered bacteria and their cause and effect, but are we at the point where we can structure an elementary organism to perform tasks on a cellular level? I guess this is where stem cell research comes into play, but can we use an actual bacteria for good? Just kind of trick it into thinking it's doing something bad? Or do I just have no clue what I'm talking about?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Luke, Alexandria — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:01:11 GMT

That is scary, something could be controlling our minds *looks around* I wonder how many of us are being controled *gulp*

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Dennis, Richmond VA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:10:42 GMT

So... half the population has a virus that makes them unconditional Democrats, and the other half has one that makes them blind-faith Republicans. That explains a lot. We need a cure FAST.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Brian, Newark DE — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:29:09 GMT

I'm looking forward to the evolution of a parasite that makes you irresistable to the opposite sex. Cuz, it's only a matter of time, right?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Jerry M. Weikle Newport News, Virginia — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:38:44 GMT

This article should be address specifically with members of the American Psychological Association and widely distributed through the mental health facilities across the country.

As the article suggest, there is a link between psychiatric disorders and the parasite. How many individuals across the country have behaviorial issues that are associated with possible infection of a parasite, and wrongly diagnosed by individuals within the medicial community.

I don't mean to imply that all of the cases are caused by this parasite, as there are other factors involved. However, if several members of a family or extended family have a linkage to cat or rat feces; then the doctor or medical provider should be aware of this possible cause.

Bacterial, microbial, or parasitic infection within a host organism can cause considerably issues within society. In this aspect, something might not be "genetic predisposition" to a specific illness, and some individuals within society may have been improperly diagnosed by the medical community.

This article is excellent for even members within the Education Field, as it educates individuals to look beyond labeling individuals within society.

The ending question for thought, "What recourse does an individual have if they have a Toxo condition?" Is there a series of medications for the patient? Can neurological and psychological damages be 'corrected' once proper Toxo diagosined?
How will this information be used within the Insurance Industry, the health profession, and the education professions to properly inform individuals?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:23:00 GMT

When the aliens arrive and want to communicate with the dominant and most intelligent creature on the planet, I wonder who they will want to talk to? The Toxoplasma gondii perhaps?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Mike, Long Island, NY — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:24:04 GMT

That explains all the crazy cat ladies out there!

But seriously, what this means for human behavior is profound. If certain populations and cultures have higher than average infection rates which makes them more prone to impulse and general craziness, this could explain some problems in intercultural relations. But who's to say who is normal without testing? What happens when large populations are tested and found to be infected? Do we shun them? Do we try to cure them? Would they feel they are under attack, or that we are trying to subvert their culture if we try to cure them? Very interesting.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Tom H, Post Falls, Idaho — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:31:47 GMT

Maybe that's why some people like cats so much; They've been infected and just love the smell of the litter box!

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Kari, Leslie, AR — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:49:24 GMT

This is a fantastic area of research. I wrote a paper over this very thing while doing my undergrad work. There is also a stickleback fish who makes itself more availble to predatory birds when it is infested with a certain parasite. And realistically numerous other manifestations of behvior that could functionaly be manipulated by parasitic infestation. Parasites and zoonotic disease (those that cross between species) are enough to outdo any Hollywood horror film. Such fun- ;-)

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Blake, Nowheresville, OK — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:31:57 GMT

I'm pretty sure i have the "irresistable to the opposite sex" parasite. yeah baby!

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Tim, San Diego, CA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:57:27 GMT

I remember watching a program that described a "zombie" parasite that infects snails, takes over their brain and puts on a visual display in the head of the snail that looks like a colorful worm (to be seen by birds), then makes them climb upwards to be made more visible and be eaten by birds, then falls back to the ground through the bird poop and the life cycle starts again.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Leon, Fairfield, CA — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:51:19 GMT

Old 'legend' (true, in a way) about cats sucking out peoples' breath...Of course that means that when the person is inhaling, the cat is exhaling, an ideal way to transfer organisms which couldn't survive long periods of time in an environment substantially different from mammalian lungs. Very interesting line of discovery.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

happy halloween — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:34:08 GMT

luke in alexandria;
Don't worry, now that we know that you are not one of us, we can assure you that your transformation will be quite painless.
It won't be long. ;-)

Invasion of the brain snatchers

JC, Fairbanks, AK — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 04:38:41 GMT

I know of a couple more: 1. In the west (utah? Colorado?) their is an ameoba that lives in water. It gets up the nose of swimmers, climbs into the brain via the olfactory nerve (chowing down on nerve cells as it goes) and I believe DOES eat brain cells, killing the victim (which can be human). I believe one of the symptoms of having it is loss of the sense of smell (since it destroys the nerve) 2. Here in Alaska there is a parasite (a worm) that lives in moose that makes nasty big cysts inside them (hunters don't care to encounter them, but most moose apparently have them....). But they transit to moose by way of wolf. When a wolf bolts down some moose it swallows alot of super-tough worm eggs and poops them out. The poop lies there, for years, until a grazing moose comes along and comes into contact with the eggs. I believe this is the origin of that famous verb-term "to eat **** and die".

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Stan. Y, Lebanon, PA — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:24:19 GMT

Didn't the Brits kill off the cats setting the stage for the spread of the bubonic plague leaving the rats run amuck? Great now we need to kill both. Yet,maybe alot of the Toxo infected Brits actually died from cat-lack disease. Maybe Toxo and the B-plague were working together,,, a conspiracy of microscopic proportions! Rat ate the crap, I wonder why? Cat ate the rat, I bet he'll die. Man pet the cat, I think he'll cry, and so on and son to infinitum.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Luella Gerbensky — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:45:45 GMT

My 6 year old grandson has PANDAS. Although there is no cure for it I have done much research on nutrition and found that Omega3 is suppose to strengthen the cell walls of the brain and cranberries are suppose to repair and help prevent damage to the cells. There is also some evidence that Folic Acid may help Parkinson’s and that it may help PANDAS.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

hemo — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:50:49 GMT

interesting story indeed. Seems a very intelligent beasty! About as intelligent as alcohol or other mind altering substances or even methodology.
The love death, suicide now reaction is a feature of the animal brain in response to general mental breakdown,it is essential to the maintenance of brain function in future generations!
By doing this the brain lives on and so does the parasite!
We must give credit where credit is due!

Invasion of the brain snatchers

hemo — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:58:47 GMT

However the chain has a weak link! The rat hates cats urine but eats it feaces?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Tim Rommes, Washington, UT — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:51:50 GMT

Mike, Long Island wrote (10/30, 1324), “Do we shun them? Do we try to cure them? Would they feel they are under attack …” Indeed, a very interesting point. If a disease causes the crazy cat lady to be happy around cats do we cure her or just let her be happy? I’ve wondered this about several things. Do we force a wife out of a violent marriage if she loves her husband and wants to stick it out? Under what conditions do we impose society’s view of what should be and when do we defer to personal preference. When do we ignore personal preference because it’s caused by a parasite or PTSD or …?

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Eric, Troy, NY — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:51:36 GMT

Very interesting! Without a doubt the medical community is at a loss to diagnose diseases definitively and does a lot of "stabbing in the dark" or simply not treating what they do not recognize as disease however misdiagnose it as a psychological disorder or some other convenient label.

If health care is to improve we should expect to see specialization into fields previously unknown, like toxoplasmosis. I suspect arthritis will be revealed to be an infection as well as fibro myalgia and other recognized yet untreatable, due to a lack of source cause, diseases.

The up side is that treatment may result in fewer wars and a better outlook for the human race. And yes, I too think there is a relation between exotic thought processes that drive people to become bleeding hearts as opposed to being hawkish of ones safety. Most liberals have a strong desire to do what has been historically proven to be devastating to society yet are compelled to try to reestablish taboos as if persecuted. Infected? I hope for a cure.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

Jordan Roe, Idaho — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:09:11 GMT

I think I would have to agree with Jerry W. on this subject. With the influx of behavioral and emotional troubles of our young these days, I wonder if it could be attributed to the increase of pet ownerwship.

Invasion of the brain snatchers

toothfairy — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:20:54 GMT

This whole concept makes so much sense......now I know why Democrats have such warped brain function.