Scientists have recently warned that cats may be spreading brain cancer to their owners through the parasite that breeds in their stomach.
The parasite named Toxoplasma gondii is suspected to be one of the unknown causes of brain cancer, which claims more than 3,500 lives a year in the UK in its various guises. This parasite is known to be carried by around a third of the world’s population deep inside the brains and has been linked to personality changes in both human and animals. It is also known to have a complicated lifecycle as it can only breed inside cats and pass their microscopic eggs as well as spreading the infection through their feces.
To avoid the infection caused by the parasite, pregnant women are advised not to empty cat litter trays as it can be fatal to unborn babies as well as causing health risks to other people.
Based on the global data collected on brain cancers in men and women by French scientist, when compared with the figures on T.gondii infection rates, it was found that brain cancer rates is the highest in countries where the parasite was most prevalent even when other factors such as income were included.
Based on the finding, Frederic Thomas, from the CNRS research institute in Montpellier who also led the research, convinced that T.gondii could potentially increase the risk of brain cancer in humans – as reported in The Dailymail.
Besides of linking the parasite to human brain tumors, it has already been linked to brain tumors in animals as it was known to affect the animal’s behavioral changes. For example, rats which are infected by T.gondii can lose their fear of cats that they are more likely to be killed and eaten.
As in human behavior, research suggested that the parasite may also turn men into aggressive, jealous ‘alley cat’, while to women, it transforms them into ‘sex kittens’. Another impact to human behavior research has also pointed is the strong link between T.gondii and schizophrenia.
The main causes of T.gondii infection in humans are consuming undercooked meat, especially lamb, pork and venison, as well as ingesting water, soil, or anything else contaminated by cat feces.
Further research regarding brain cancer spread by cats is still needed to determine the proximate links between T.gondii and different types of brain tumors as well as the action mechanism of the parasite. However, establishing the link between T.gondii and brain cancers could possibly open the door to potential means to reduce the risk of cancer.
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