Without a doubt, cats make beloved pets but recent studies link these furry felines to mental illness.
Recent epidemiologic studies show cats are capable of carrying parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which can modify behavior and neurotransmitter function in animals.
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite can be passed on to humans. In fact, Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates over 60 million people in the United States may have it.
The chance of most people developing the symptoms of T. gondii infection are thin, however those with weakened immune symptoms could develop an illness called toxoplasmosis, which eventually could lead to blindness, a flu-like illness, fetal development disorders, miscarriages and in some extreme cases, it can even lead to death.
But that's not all, according to a recently published research, the cat-carried parasite is also associated with mental illness, Time noted.
E. Fuller Torrey of the Stanley Medical Research Institute along with Dr. Robert H. Yolken of Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has been studying a probable link between the parasite and mental illness like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The new research that was published in Schizophrenia Research, investigates whether cat ownership in childhood is comparatively more common in families in which the child later becomes gravely mentally ill.
In a statement, the authors of the study said, "Cat ownership in childhood has now been reported in three studies to be significantly more common in families in which the child is later diagnosed with schizophrenia or another serious mental illness."
Tech Times noted that the results of the SMRI research support the findings of another study that was featured in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. According to this earlier paper individuals infected with the T. gondii parasite are twice as much vulnerable to develop schizophrenia.
Whether there is any geographic link between the ubiquity of toxoplasmosis and the prevalence of schizophrenia is still unknown.
France reportedly has a high prevalence of Toxoplasma-infected persons and it was also reported that France has first-admission rates for schizophrenia approximately 50 percent higher as compared to those in England.
Dr. Yolken reviewed military medical records and it was found that soldiers who developed schizophrenia were two times as likely as other soldiers to show signs of Toxoplasma infection in blood samples.
Avoiding Toxoplasma Gondii Infection
Torrey simply recommends keeping pet cats indoors and also keeping their sandbox covered when not in use in order to prevent the spread of the T. gondii parasite.
The CDC also encourages cat owners to clean their pet's litterbox every day to prohibit the T. gondii from becoming infectious. Moreover, cat owners should also avoid from feeding their cats with undercooked or raw meat.
As far as cleaning the litterbox is concerned, pregnant women should avoid it, or at least wear a pair of disposable gloves when handling it.
After cleaning the litterbox, they should fully wash their hands with soap and water.
