Neuroparasitology Studies Parasites That Turn Hosts Into Mindless Zombies

Neuroparasitology is a new branch of science that deals with parasites that can control the neurological system of the host. A collection of review articles has been prepared to showcase this emerging field of science.

Parasites are classified as organisms that take advantage of another organism (host) for its necessities such as food. This relationship is non-mutual and the host is mostly unaware of the parasite.

There are different ways that a parasite interacts with the host. Some parasites burrow into the host to lay its eggs in it (the host becomes the food source for the emerging larvae) or as a food source for itself.

Another type of parasite goes one step further. Instead of just passively staying in its host, the parasite affects the behavior and movement of the host. It does this by
taking control of the host's neurological system.

The host basically becomes a mindless zombie under the control of the parasite.

Study Suggest Cats Can Cause Suicidal Behavior and Mental Illness In Women

Toxoplasmosis is an infection due to a single cell parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention consider toxoplasmosis to be a leading cause of death attributed to foodborne illness in the United States. They estimate that more than 60 million people in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasma parasite. Few manifest symptoms since the body's immune system prevents the parasite from causing illness but a person with a compromised immune system or a newly infected pregnant woman is at high risk in acquiring the disease.

Severe toxoplasmosis can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and other organs. It can develop from an acute Toxoplasma infection or reactivated from a prior infection. Severe cases are more likely in individuals who have weak immune systems, though occasionally, even persons with healthy immune systems may experience eye damage from toxoplasmosis.

The CDC considers toxoplasmosis as one of the Neglected Parasitic Infections, a group of five parasitic diseases that have been targeted by CDC for public health action.

Study: Women infected with common parasite have increased risk of attempting suicide

Women infected with the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite, which is spread through contact with cat feces or eating undercooked meat or unwashed vegetables, are at increased risk of attempting suicide, according to a new study of more than 45,000 women in Denmark. A University of Maryland School of Medicine psychiatrist with expertise in suicide neuroimmunology is the senior author of the study, which is being published online today in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

"We can't say with certainty that T. gondii caused the women to try to kill themselves, but we did find a predictive association between the infection and suicide attempts later in life that warrants additional studies. We plan to continue our research into this possible connection," says Teodor T. Postolache, M.D., the senior author and an associate professor of psychiatry and director of the Mood and Anxiety Program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also serves as research faculty at the University of Maryland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Innovations Center and is a senior consultant on suicide prevention for the Baltimore VA Medical Center.

About one-third of the world's population is infected with the parasite, which hides in cells in the brain and muscles, often without producing symptoms. The infection, which is called toxoplasmosis, has been linked to mental illness, such as schizophrenia, and changes in behavior.