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Firstly it's a very old discovery, just the effects of latent toxoplasmosis are becoming more newsworthy in tabloids and fluff pieces, traditionally the whole e

Firstly it's a very old discovery, just the effects of latent toxoplasmosis are becoming more newsworthy in tabloids and fluff pieces, traditionally the whole encephalitis was what people worried about. Toxoplasmosis' only agreed upon (and still alleged) effect is a decrease in neophilia, which is linked to monoamine oxidase A a product of the so called 'warrior gene' that is far more prevalent in society than toxoplasmosis infections (33% genetic prevalence amongst European whites IIRC and ~60% in Asian/Pacific Islanders). Oh and BTW toxoplasmosis is easily curable, it's regularly cured in humans and in animals that carry it used for food production (Pigs, Sheep and farmed Deers). The reason doctors don't treat it, is because you're safer to have latent toxoplasmosis than none at all, not only can it lead to miscarriages in women, but the chance of encephalitis increases with decreased immune function. So if you get toxoplasmosis when you're healthy, like most people, you'll be fine, but if doctors go around curing it you'll get reinfected and seriously increase your risk for death. Ironically the mild production of Monoamine Oxidase A is known for a decrease in danger-seeking behaviour, but extreme production (witnessed in people with the Warrior Gene) is known for an increase in danger-seeking behaviour. Toxoplasmosis apparently acts like the warrior gene for mice, but will in fact likely prolong the life of a human infected with latent toxoplasmosis.

gojomo 17y ago
Very interesting, but in some ways contradictory to what I've read elsewhere, which includes: (1) the effect on humans might be different for men vs. women (with one becoming more withdrawn, and the other more reckless); and (2) that there's no treatment sure to reach latent cysts, and those that have the best chance have strong negative side effects. In particular, I've never heard that having a latent infection is better than none-at-all, or that a latent infection protects against reinfection any more than having shaken the disease entirely (which with many diseases leaves residual resistance). Do you have any references for this 'safer with latent toxoplasmosis' interpretation?
- electromagnetic 17y ago
  There's been no scientficially-verifiable studies done on the actual behavioural effects of toxoplasmosis, either on people as a whole or on individual sexes. The behaviours most commonly noted in infected people is decreased jealousy in males and decreased frigidity in females; anything beyond these are largely debated and are essentially wild speculation. The biggest medical concern for infection is in women, no evidence has been shown that pregnancy will reactivate latent toxoplasmosis and allow it to become acute. If a woman is infected with toxoplasmosis it is safer to leave her untreated until she will no longer have children (around 50 years naturally, younger if her tubes are tied). Infection with toxoplasmosis when pregnant is exceptionally dangerous to the child (blindness and brain damage are exceptionally common, brain death can occur shortly after birth in many cases), but also very dangerous to the mother due to a suppressed immune system, which can start with flu-like symptoms and quickly progress to encephalitis. Treatment in males could be performed at any time, however the course of drugs for latent toxoplasmosis are either exceptionally strong, or exceptionally long term and both are far more harmful than the infection. Not to mention that if the infection isn't completely removed it may become acute, potentially causing eye damage and nasal lesions, possibly a loss of smell. The bigger problem if the infection becomes acute is that the hosts immune system has usually been somewhat compromised by the medications. There's also little proof of an immune resistance to toxoplasmosis and a person who has already been infected is highly likely to be reinfected, it is far more common to contract through your diet than your pet cat (prevalence in France is near 90%, but is near 5% in South Korea despite cat ownership averaging in the 20-40% around the world). This not only means you'll have to be retreated for the same exceptionally benign disease, but it increases your chances of acute infection. I'm sure a magical cure all of toxoplasmosis would undoubtedly do good, but it's prevalent everywhere in the environment, and despite animals being treated with medications to prevent toxoplasmosis, food is the number one way to contract it. You would have to treat a few billion humans and animals, including vermin and hope none will become drug resistant. Acute toxoplasmosis shows no signs of drug resistance, however latent toxoplasmosis already shows signs of drug resistant strains despite treatment barely being performed except in rare cases (Rh-negatives allegedly suffer decreased reaction time, which is dangerous for drivers, especially when already tired). I have no references for non-treatment toxoplasmosis treatment being safer, that's just common sense when populations like France are near 90% infected and show lower violence rates than lower infected populations like Britain (22%) despite the infection allegedly increasing violence amongst males. The statistics would appear to be contradictory to some of the assumptions made by doctors. What this really needs is an actual long-term behavioural study, but until then we have wild speculation with zero scientific basis and all appears to be contrary to current observable statistics.
antidaily 17y ago
I had toxoplasmosis when I was 12. It made my vision cloudy for a day or so until I was pumped full of prednisone to fight it. I still have a tiny blind spot in my eye from it, but (to my knowledge) no other long-term effects. Sidenote: I had an eye exam the other day and the doctor could no longer recognize it as toxo - he thought it was histo, which is apparently something you get from chickens.
- electromagnetic 17y ago
  It's good to hear that your only lasting effect is a tiny blind spot; can you yourself observe it, or is it only noticeable on an eye exam? Histoplasmosis IIRC is caused by a fungus spore. It's common in the ground everywhere, however in certain areas it's a lot more prevalent for some reason, I believe the states surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are the main place in North America. It's apparently on 80% of peoples skin in these areas, which is similar to ringworm (another fungus) in most people. However dirt infused with bird or bat droppings are a hotbed, so chicken litter of infected chickens is the common source for most humans. The only time fungi usually cause problems is when they get out of control, and dealing with infected guano is probably a good bet. IIRC it's usually an inhaled infection (causes something like pneumonia) but sometimes, often children, accidentally rub it into their eyes. I had a severe outbreak of ringworm, my doctor told me it was highly contagious and I likely caught it from my dog. My dog was clean and when I visited a dermatologist he told me that because I have psoriasis the ringworm fungus basically struck it lucky and got through the skin. Incidentally the ringworm 'cured' my psoriasis (it used to cover about 20% of my torso and limbs, now I don't have a single patch).
  - robotrout 17y ago
    You say you have medical knowledge. Regarding your claim that the ringworm cured your psoriasis. I find that a very exciting claim, if true. There are other cases of people using parasites to cure illness. Is anybody using ringworm as a psoriasis treatment?
    - electromagnetic 17y ago

gojomo 17y ago

Very interesting, but in some ways contradictory to what I've read elsewhere, which includes: (1) the effect on humans might be different for men vs. women (with one becoming more withdrawn, and the other more reckless); and (2) that there's no treatment sure to reach latent cysts, and those that have the best chance have strong negative side effects. In particular, I've never heard that having a latent infection is better than none-at-all, or that a latent infection protects against reinfection any more than having shaken the disease entirely (which with many diseases leaves residual resistance). Do you have any references for this 'safer with latent toxoplasmosis' interpretation?

electromagnetic 17y ago
There's been no scientficially-verifiable studies done on the actual behavioural effects of toxoplasmosis, either on people as a whole or on individual sexes. The behaviours most commonly noted in infected people is decreased jealousy in males and decreased frigidity in females; anything beyond these are largely debated and are essentially wild speculation. The biggest medical concern for infection is in women, no evidence has been shown that pregnancy will reactivate latent toxoplasmosis and allow it to become acute. If a woman is infected with toxoplasmosis it is safer to leave her untreated until she will no longer have children (around 50 years naturally, younger if her tubes are tied). Infection with toxoplasmosis when pregnant is exceptionally dangerous to the child (blindness and brain damage are exceptionally common, brain death can occur shortly after birth in many cases), but also very dangerous to the mother due to a suppressed immune system, which can start with flu-like symptoms and quickly progress to encephalitis. Treatment in males could be performed at any time, however the course of drugs for latent toxoplasmosis are either exceptionally strong, or exceptionally long term and both are far more harmful than the infection. Not to mention that if the infection isn't completely removed it may become acute, potentially causing eye damage and nasal lesions, possibly a loss of smell. The bigger problem if the infection becomes acute is that the hosts immune system has usually been somewhat compromised by the medications. There's also little proof of an immune resistance to toxoplasmosis and a person who has already been infected is highly likely to be reinfected, it is far more common to contract through your diet than your pet cat (prevalence in France is near 90%, but is near 5% in South Korea despite cat ownership averaging in the 20-40% around the world). This not only means you'll have to be retreated for the same exceptionally benign disease, but it increases your chances of acute infection. I'm sure a magical cure all of toxoplasmosis would undoubtedly do good, but it's prevalent everywhere in the environment, and despite animals being treated with medications to prevent toxoplasmosis, food is the number one way to contract it. You would have to treat a few billion humans and animals, including vermin and hope none will become drug resistant. Acute toxoplasmosis shows no signs of drug resistance, however latent toxoplasmosis already shows signs of drug resistant strains despite treatment barely being performed except in rare cases (Rh-negatives allegedly suffer decreased reaction time, which is dangerous for drivers, especially when already tired). I have no references for non-treatment toxoplasmosis treatment being safer, that's just common sense when populations like France are near 90% infected and show lower violence rates than lower infected populations like Britain (22%) despite the infection allegedly increasing violence amongst males. The statistics would appear to be contradictory to some of the assumptions made by doctors. What this really needs is an actual long-term behavioural study, but until then we have wild speculation with zero scientific basis and all appears to be contrary to current observable statistics.

antidaily 17y ago

I had toxoplasmosis when I was 12. It made my vision cloudy for a day or so until I was pumped full of prednisone to fight it. I still have a tiny blind spot in my eye from it, but (to my knowledge) no other long-term effects. Sidenote: I had an eye exam the other day and the doctor could no longer recognize it as toxo - he thought it was histo, which is apparently something you get from chickens.

electromagnetic 17y ago
It's good to hear that your only lasting effect is a tiny blind spot; can you yourself observe it, or is it only noticeable on an eye exam? Histoplasmosis IIRC is caused by a fungus spore. It's common in the ground everywhere, however in certain areas it's a lot more prevalent for some reason, I believe the states surrounding the Ohio and Mississippi rivers are the main place in North America. It's apparently on 80% of peoples skin in these areas, which is similar to ringworm (another fungus) in most people. However dirt infused with bird or bat droppings are a hotbed, so chicken litter of infected chickens is the common source for most humans. The only time fungi usually cause problems is when they get out of control, and dealing with infected guano is probably a good bet. IIRC it's usually an inhaled infection (causes something like pneumonia) but sometimes, often children, accidentally rub it into their eyes. I had a severe outbreak of ringworm, my doctor told me it was highly contagious and I likely caught it from my dog. My dog was clean and when I visited a dermatologist he told me that because I have psoriasis the ringworm fungus basically struck it lucky and got through the skin. Incidentally the ringworm 'cured' my psoriasis (it used to cover about 20% of my torso and limbs, now I don't have a single patch).
- robotrout 17y ago
  You say you have medical knowledge. Regarding your claim that the ringworm cured your psoriasis. I find that a very exciting claim, if true. There are other cases of people using parasites to cure illness. Is anybody using ringworm as a psoriasis treatment?
  - electromagnetic 17y ago