Scientists have discovered that people infected with toxoplasmosis are more go-getting. But that doesn’t mean we should all be trying to catch it
Name: Toxoplasma gondii.
Location: All over the place.
Appearance: Very small. A single cell, in fact. You’d need a microscope to see it.
Aw, how cute! Um, yeah. Kind of. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that spreads in cat faeces to other mammals, including humans.
Less cute. What does it do? Usually nothing. Indeed, it is extremely common. Worldwide, about two billion people have picked up toxoplasmosis, the disease that toxoplasma gondii causes, but in most cases they never feel anything at all, and are immune afterwards.
That sounds like my kind of disease. Yes, although it can make babies and people with weakened immune systems very ill. You may remember that Tommy in Trainspotting died from toxoplasmosis contracted from his kitten.
Yeesh. Plus it might secretly rule the world.
Leave A Comment