Can a Cat Parasite Cause Psychological Illness?

A ubiquitous parasite estimated to infect millions of people worldwide, it has been associated with schizophrenia and a host of other neurological disorders; however, no clear evidence of this situation was presented. While there are numerous studies arguing that this parasite, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), also known as the ‘mind-changing’ parasite, is linked to strange patterns in changing behavior or human activity, there is also data that refutes this relationship.

Now, a new study led by Vincent Paquin, assistant psychiatry at McGill University in Canada, seems to have new findings that may help explain this paradox. This research, which has the potential to find a way to identify what might lurk behind the apparent dangers of T. gondii, examines the relationship between cat owners and mental disorders.

Cats alone are not sufficient for transmission of the parasite to humans

A 1995 study found that T. gondii, in addition to contaminated food or water, could be infected claimed that it could be transmitted to humans through exposure to the feces of an infected domestic cat; Accordingly, he claimed that owning a cat in childhood was linked to developing mental illness in adulthood. However, subsequent studies have failed to provide a clear answer as to the relationship between owning a cat and T. gondii. The aforementioned new research seems to have brought a new perspective to this situation.

In their new research paper, “Domestic cats often become infected with the parasite by feeding on rodents and are only contagious for the following days or weeks.” “Therefore, determining whether the cat is known to prey on rodents may provide a better proxy for possible exposure to T. gondii compared to owning a cat alone,” Paquin and co-authors said. uses expressions.

In other words, this means that cats alone do not cause humans to be exposed to the parasite. However, it seems that cats that hunt rodents, such as those that are not only kept indoors and allowed to go outside, may be more likely to come into contact with T. gondii outdoors.

Research shows once again the importance of keeping health checks of our dear friends

Hypothetically speaking, it is possible that cats can transmit the infection to people in childhood, causing them to develop psychological problems in adulthood. means. To examine this assumption, researchers surveyed nearly 2,200 participants in Montreal, asking them questions about cat ownership during their childhood and measuring the frequency of their psychotic experiences. In addition, the researchers asked respondents a number of other questions in the survey, such as how often they were transported as children, whether they had experienced head trauma, and whether they smoked.

Analyzing responses from participants, the team observed that male participants who had a rodent-hunting cat during childhood were at greater risk of experiencing psychotic experiences in adulthood; however, strangely, the same association was not observed in female participants.

However, no such correlation was found among the participants who had never had a cat in their childhood and only had a cat at home. On the other hand, we mentioned above; it was clear that other factors examined in the questionnaire (smoking, head injury, etc.)

In addition to all these, the research has some limitations such that all findings in the survey are self-reported; however, this does not change the fact that their findings show how important it is for further research to be conducted that could help us more accurately identify interactions associated with T. gondii exposure in the future.

Finally, the study also draws attention to how important it is that the health care of our furball friends should not be interrupted. As you know, owning a cat is recommended to patients by many experts as an auxiliary element in the treatment of psychological disorders. In other words, it is of great importance for our health to not interrupt the veterinary checks of our dear friends and to make sure that they are in the healthiest state they can be.