Effects of Toxoplasmosis on Human Behavior

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2020-01-01
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Mendel, Aaron
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Vlastislav Bracha
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Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that relies on the predation of mice by cats to complete its life cycle. In order to facilitate its life cycle, it has evolved in a way that influences the mouse host’s behavior that raises predation chance. Besides mice, T. gondii can infect many other mammals as secondary hosts, including humans. While T. gondii infection in humans remains relatively asymptomatic, there have been instances of disease caused by the parasite. It is possible that, since T. gondii can affect the behavioral traits of mice, that it might have similar effects on humans. This review examines evidence of T. gondii effects on human personality, and perhaps also human culture as a whole.

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Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2020
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