by Jill Warnke
Over the past couple of years, numerous studies have been made concerning the particular “mind controlling” capabilities of toxoplasma gondii.
Toxoplasma gondii is a type of protozoan parasite famous for its ability to manipulate the behaviors of its host. It travels when an animal eats an already infected animal or when it comes into contact once shed in feces. It is widespread in nature even though it can only reproduce in the intestines of domestic or wild cats.
Due to the fact that T. gondii needs to end up in the intestines of a cat to reproduce, it has evolved to manipulate its hosts in order to get the parasite where it needs to be.
More notable studies were done to further investigate toxoplasma gondii’s influence on rodents, wolves, and hyenas in particular.
When T. gondii infects rodents, it has been recorded to influence and alter the behavior of these animals in the presence of house cats. It reduces fear, slows rodent reaction time, and invokes a sense of lethargy. In this way, it negates the creature’s natural instincts, so that the rodents are more likely to be eaten by a cat.
T. gondii also seems to have this sort of effect on wild hyena cubs. A team of researchers, led by Kay Holekamp, a professor at Michigan State University, paired behavioral data with hyenas that were infected with the parasite. They also kept track of hyena deaths and survival rates, looking for any correlation with the infected.
The team did find hyena cubs to be more directly affected by the parasite in comparison to older hyenas over the age of 1. These infected cubs became notably bolder around lions, not shying away like other hyenas upon discovering a lion’s den. The infected hyena cubs had a higher death rate than uninfected cubs when it came to lion mortality.
Researchers conclude it’s because hyena cubs are more vulnerable to manipulation, having not fully developed survival skills, whereas older hyenas have experience and have had the time to learn these skills.
Toxoplasma gondii can infect any warm-blooded animal, including humans in which case the infection is called toxoplasmosis. They often travel to humans through human contact with litter boxes, contaminated water, and undercooked meat. Like the other animals T. gondii manipulates, humans have also been recorded to have a reduction in fear and increase in boldness and recklessness.
It’s common for infected humans to lack any indicators of the parasite, maybe experiencing flu-like symptoms at most. But despite causing no obvious issues for most people, it can cause harm for infants and people with weakened immune systems. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also warns that toxoplasmosis could increase the chance of a miscarriage or birth defects for pregnant women.
