tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post3259739266646314096..comments2024-02-29T03:57:00.088-05:00Comments on The Mermaid's Tale: You are what you're infected with?Anne Buchananhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-21029022262668065072012-04-28T08:52:28.703-04:002012-04-28T08:52:28.703-04:00We're not physicians so can't help you on ...We're not physicians so can't help you on that (getting a test). As to the stereotype, the 'craziest' cat person we know is .... a couple. They have something like 80 cats in their ordinary sized house. Not a pretty sight and not good for the cats.Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-11376038762358064052012-04-28T08:51:12.159-04:002012-04-28T08:51:12.159-04:00I think there is still a lot that's not known ...I think there is still a lot that's not known about toxoplasmosis, including how real the sex differences among infected people might be. <br /><br />As for getting tested, if you read the Atlantic article that was the motivation for this post, you will notice that the author pretty much figured she was infected, given her traits, and was a little disappointed not to have it. So, give some thought to whether you really want to know! Maybe it's more romantic to think you've got it! Especially since nothing can be done about it anyway. If you do want to proceed, though, I'd imagine your health care provider would know how you'd go about getting tested.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-13879446097007539652012-04-28T08:20:40.344-04:002012-04-28T08:20:40.344-04:00Synchronicity. I was just talking to a healthcare ...Synchronicity. I was just talking to a healthcare provider who advised me to be careful with my cat's litter- to wear gloves when changing it or at least wash my hands well after. I now will wear gloves and, while at my local pharmacy, found myself gazing at a box of $15- disposal masks considering their purchase to further protect myself. How funny that the very next day I would find this on my Facebook feed!<br /><br />I actually wanted to comment on your query of "why are crazy cat people always female?" Not so! I know the stereotype is of the crazy cat lady but I've experienced only crazy cat MEN in reality. One neighbor, in West Philadelphia, we even had to call animal control on- a sweet, mild-mannered older man who was a slob as well as a cat hoarder. Which brings me to the paper's observation of male "sloppy dressers" claim for those with T.gondi; I, myself, wear designer clothes and am very image conscious however housework and I are not good friends. I wouldn't call myself a slob but...things tend to pile up at times. I also cross mid-block when cars are coming but I grew up in N.Y.C. Even still, I DO have a weakened immune system so would I be a candidate for testing and how does one get a toxoplasmosis test??carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09600528899446226355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-73818203764412868952012-02-21T17:40:35.779-05:002012-02-21T17:40:35.779-05:00True, this is a complex issue. My heart goes out ...True, this is a complex issue. My heart goes out to you as you try to make sense of your son's symptoms. And I hear you re. socialized health care!Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-32910127083229553992012-02-21T16:21:52.184-05:002012-02-21T16:21:52.184-05:00Jumping in here, seems some here think that just b...Jumping in here, seems some here think that just because you have a cat or may have been infected with T.gondi you will have these psychological issues. C.J. Carter's article indicates that a number of genetic criteria has to be met before manifestation of Schizophrenia occurs. In addition, it's not just T.gondi. "Schizophrenia has also been associated with prenatal complications including maternal rubella (German measles) [11], influenza [12, 13], Varicella zoster (chicken pox) [14], Herpes (HSV-2) [15], common cold infection with fever [16], or poliovirus infection [17] while in childhood or adulthood, coxsackie virus infection (in neonates [18]) or Lyme disease (vectored by the Ixodes tick and Borrelia Burgdorferri) or Toxoplasmosis have been reported as risk factors [19, 20] (see Table 1). The human endogenous retrovirus, HERV-W, has also been implicated in schizophrenia [21]. A number of schizophrenia-related genes are implicated in the life cycles of these pathogens, suggesting an interplay between genes and risk factors [22]."<br /><br />"...genes, risk factors, and immunity can be linked together forming a unifying pathway whose elements are interdependent. Dysfunction of this network which is conditional upon interactions between its three branches may be responsible for schizophrenia."<br /><br />Then on the other end of the microbe spectrum, we have the symbiotic organisms/immune system interaction which is disrupted through antibiotic use, poor nutrition, vaccinations(?), and now GMOs, pollutants/pesticides, etc, etc. The excluded parameters which may affect the "three branches" of this scenario are overwhelming to consider, especially when you realize that people are genetic individuals, reacting uniquely to each of the listed parameters, creating exceptions to every theory.<br /><br />Just as an example, my son got sent home from second grade with a good case of head lice. We checked everyone in the house, he was the only one infested! A few years later, he would get Lyme disease (age 10), he's now 17, and exhibiting some disconcerting psych symptoms and it wasn't until I read Flegr's article that I started wondering about the latent psych- effects of Lyme disease, which Carter has somewhat confirmed. But now what? Feeling lost and overwhelmed by the implications of this information.<br />Can you imagine what insurance companies would do with this information? Now would be a great time for socialized health care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-91766089384960314722012-02-21T13:52:44.258-05:002012-02-21T13:52:44.258-05:00You have a very fine professor, Mark! If you are i...You have a very fine professor, Mark! If you are in the DNAnonymous class, I hope we'll see some of your contributions to the class blog.<br /><br />I hadn't heard about the parasite diet! I have long wondered, though, why no one has adapted the tapeworm to the diet industry. Just looking for the ad you refer to, I note that in fact parasites are indeed used as diet aids in some places. Roundworms and tapeworms. So I guess this means we really are their slaves -- they've manipulated us into feeding them _and_ giving them a nice warm place to live. :-)Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-84371132648968632562012-02-21T13:44:48.490-05:002012-02-21T13:44:48.490-05:00Thank's Anne.
I talked to my professor today (...Thank's Anne.<br />I talked to my professor today (Prof. Holly Dunsworth) about it. She helped to clear that up for me.<br />We talked about the effects that have been observed in women, and how, even though the data is incomplete, what has been suggested doesn't sound particularly negative...which lead me to think; it wasn't long ago advertisements boasted a little parasitic product for weight loss-YES, WE'VE DONE IT AGAIN. NOW FROM THE SAME COMPANY THAT BROUGHT YOU THE 100% ALL NATURAL, 100% ORGANIC, WEIGHT LOSS SOLUTION, COMES THE PRODUCT THAT all you LADIES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR...THE GREGARIOUS PERSONALITY POTION-DONT BE A SOCIAL PARASITE, BE A SOCIALITE, EXPLOIT OUR PARASITE...mark meehanhttp://isasporkintheroad.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-84361271501258693012012-02-21T11:55:32.293-05:002012-02-21T11:55:32.293-05:00So, are all these women academics because they are...So, are all these women academics because they are infected? Infected because they are academics? Uninfected and still academics? It would sure help to know how they tested intelligence, and how the women in the study got smarter. Mark said above that these papers, replete with academic jargon, can be daunting. They can also be just plain not good.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-47924979420803110952012-02-21T11:51:33.248-05:002012-02-21T11:51:33.248-05:00Most women you know are dung eaters? or 'just...Most women you know are dung eaters? or 'just' sniffers? or 'grazers'?! You have a strange, if intelligent, circle of friends....Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-30735209870804708662012-02-21T11:49:13.559-05:002012-02-21T11:49:13.559-05:00That list in the paper you linked to... those bold...That list in the paper you linked to... those bold words describe most women I know. Especially academics.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-84060138268816820872012-02-21T11:45:30.665-05:002012-02-21T11:45:30.665-05:00Maybe 'graze' -- works euphemistically and...Maybe 'graze' -- works euphemistically and literally too...Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-22544112809259427342012-02-21T11:43:26.595-05:002012-02-21T11:43:26.595-05:00haha. I typed "eat" but thought, yes, sn...haha. I typed "eat" but thought, yes, sniffing could be enough ;). Also, my brain is itchy.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-58735157970496022332012-02-21T11:42:16.452-05:002012-02-21T11:42:16.452-05:00Do you think you can get away with just sniffing i...Do you think you can get away with just sniffing it?Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-84549842847861766492012-02-21T11:41:15.147-05:002012-02-21T11:41:15.147-05:00*rationales! Apparently I can't write html an...*rationales! Apparently I can't write html and spell at the same time.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-1090854729690150692012-02-21T11:40:40.234-05:002012-02-21T11:40:40.234-05:00Mark (the poster above) and I were just having a f...Mark (the poster above) and I were just having a funny conversation about how someone could wrongly interpret this research as: You want to get smarter? You should sniff cat poop!Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-58517541337020139472012-02-21T11:32:39.087-05:002012-02-21T11:32:39.087-05:00If you're lucky, you have latent toxoplasmosis...If you're lucky, you have latent toxoplasmosis. According to <a href="http://prfdec.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/pdf/Tehul3.pdf" rel="nofollow">this</a> paper, the longer you have it, the more intelligent you get. Your rationals will only get even more embellished as you age. :)Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-16286541156477371442012-02-21T11:26:47.995-05:002012-02-21T11:26:47.995-05:00Kevin and I have decided that T. gondii makes me w...Kevin and I have decided that T. gondii makes me walk in front of traffic and my consciousness rationalizes the behavior, post-hoc, to fit a pleasing self-image.Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-77238868396983120652012-02-21T09:59:16.182-05:002012-02-21T09:59:16.182-05:00Calms of reasonability are to be encouraged. Perh...Calms of reasonability are to be encouraged. Perhaps not T. gondii's forte, however... As for increased intelligence in women with latent toxoplasmosis, the one Flegr paper I've read on the subject is less than convincing. The number of women with latent infection isn't clear, but it's got to be small, and it's not clear whether he controlled for obvious possible confounders like age, socieoeconomic strata and so on. And, it looks to me as though the difference in intelligence, however they measured it, is trivial. So, not something I'd write home about.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-41581652881483892172012-02-20T20:44:41.212-05:002012-02-20T20:44:41.212-05:00Here's the link to that paper I mentionedHere's the link to that <a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/273/1602/2749.full.html#ref-list-1" rel="nofollow">paper I mentioned</a>Holly Dunsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05260104967932801186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-72028697160091968872012-02-20T20:17:00.127-05:002012-02-20T20:17:00.127-05:00I think my initial reaction was a bit excited, fev...I think my initial reaction was a bit excited, fevered, impulsive...last night I was listening to WTF-Marc Maron's podcast- and he was talking about this. Of course he went off on a hot-headed rant about this parasite, while positing the possibility-because he airs the podcast from his "cat ranch"- that toxoplasmosis may be the cause of his volatility, and other glitches.<br />Then I see this this morning; impetuous paranoia ensues.<br />Well, after reading the research article, the calm of reasonability set it in. <br />Do you guys know what that whole increased intelligence in women with latent toxoplasmosis is about?, or did I read that wrong?...those journals, replete with analytical jargon is sometimes daunting for the average dolt,mark meehanhttp://isasporkintheroad.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-71099591859173427722012-02-20T20:10:44.788-05:002012-02-20T20:10:44.788-05:00If the symptoms of T. gondii infection here and no...If the symptoms of T. gondii infection here and now are mostly 'normal' traits like sloppy dressing, or designer dressing, car accidents, slow reaction time, cat obsessions, and only occasionally schizophrenia, I have no idea what the corollaries would have been in Egypt. Cat obsession was the norm, I have no idea about fastidiousness or sloppiness, or what the equivalent of car accidents would have been. Some schizophrenia, perhaps. But I'm thinking that there's nothing here that would bring down a civilization.Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-29428022210379444732012-02-20T19:53:41.649-05:002012-02-20T19:53:41.649-05:00ok, this brings to mind ancient Egypt where that s...ok, this brings to mind ancient Egypt where that society dietized cats so they were everywhere. Is that one of the causes of the downfall of that great civilization?Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10781510687154219618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-46909342866028524062012-02-20T13:03:59.408-05:002012-02-20T13:03:59.408-05:00Steamboat Willie!Steamboat Willie!Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-46829095289026733092012-02-20T12:59:37.451-05:002012-02-20T12:59:37.451-05:00Or.... maybe it's a parasite behind the wheel!...Or.... maybe it's a parasite behind the wheel!Anne Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09212151396672651221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1812431336777691886.post-56712274404248413222012-02-20T12:49:14.415-05:002012-02-20T12:49:14.415-05:00Well, the great conundrum of life, so very hard to...Well, the great conundrum of life, so very hard to grasp, is that there is nobody behind the wheel....and there isn't any wheel!<br /><br />Yet, it seems, we really aren't so vulnerable. After all, every one of us here today is the descendant of 3.8 billion years of entirely successful ancestors (whatever their infection status)!Ken Weisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02049713123559138421noreply@blogger.com