Zombie Animals

[Charlotte]

Scary shit

...particularly the bit about toxoplasmosis from cats 

[Jasmine]

Interestingly, in all of the examples except Toxoplasmosis, the benefit to the parasite of host behaviour change is obvious - usually associated with either larval survival or transmission to a second host to complete the lifecycle.  I wonder what the benefit of the behavioural changes described in humans are to the parasite.

[border-rider]

Interesting

Maybe it explains why the pill bugs that live in our house venture out into the middle of the rooms and then dessicate.  Full-time job sweeping them up...

I know that snails are affected by parasites - at the old house Lambourn they used to climb right up the house to the eaves, and congregate there in significant numbers, which apparently is behaviour that makes them easier to be picked off by birds (to spread the parasite)  - at least that is so when it's grass they are climbing.

[Regulator]

Scary shit

...particularly the bit about toxoplasmosis from cats 

Montezuma's revenge for this, perhaps...




If I were Liz and you, I'd be scared... very scared!

We shall monitor you for signs that your mind is being controlled...*





*Though with your minds how would we know.... 

[Charlotte]

Catty revenge is a dish best served with Whiskers.  I'm fully expecting to get home and find that the little git has pissed in the hallway again...

[Mrs Pingu]

And that's why you shouldn't flush your kitty litter down the toilet folks!

There was a documentary on tv a while back showing how sea otters were having problems on West Coast America because they became infected by toxoplasmosis which made them unable to forage properly. - They traced the outbreak to a nearby sewage outfall and reckoned it was down to cat owners flushing kitty doo-doo.

[Zipperhead]

very[/i] scared!

We shall monitor you for signs that your mind is being controlled...*

Monty practices his mind control rays....

[Adrian]

And that's why you shouldn't flush your kitty litter down the toilet folks!

There was a documentary on tv a while back showing how sea otters were having problems on West Coast America because they became infected by toxoplasmosis which made them unable to forage properly. - They traced the outbreak to a nearby sewage outfall and reckoned it was down to cat owners flushing kitty doo-doo.

Although no sewage outfall would be a better solution