LIVE SCIENCE

Mind Control by Parasites

Bill Christensen

Half of the world's human population is infected with Toxoplasma, parasites in the body—and the brain. Remember that.

Toxoplasma gondii is a common parasite found in the guts of cats; it sheds eggs that are picked up by rats and other animals that are eaten by cats. Toxoplasma forms cysts in the bodies of the intermediate rat hosts, including in the brain.

Since cats don't want to eat dead, decaying prey, Toxoplasma takes the evolutionarily sound course of being a "good" parasite, leaving the rats perfectly healthy. Or are they?

Oxford scientists discovered that the minds of the infected rats have been subtly altered. In a series of experiments, they demonstrated that healthy rats will prudently avoid areas that have been doused with cat urine. In fact, when scientists test anti-anxiety drugs on rats, they use a whiff of cat urine to induce neurochemical panic.

However, it turns out that Toxoplasma-ridden rats show no such reaction. In fact, some of the infected rats actually seek out the cat urine-marked areas again and again. The parasite alters the mind (and thus the behavior) of the rat for its own benefit.

If the parasite can alter rat behavior, does it have any effect on humans?

Dr. E. Fuller Torrey (Associate Director for Laboratory Research at the Stanley Medical Research Institute) noticed links between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia in human beings, approximately three billion of whom are infected with T. gondii:

• Toxoplasma infection is associated with damage to astrocytes, glial cells which surround and support neurons. Schizophrenia is also associated with damage to astrocytes.
• Pregnant women with high levels of antibodies to Toxoplasma are more likely to give birth to children who will develop schizophrenia.
• Human cells raised in petri dishes, and infected with Toxoplasma, will respond to drugs like haloperidol; the growth of the parasite stops. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic, used to treat schizophrenia.

Dr. Torrey got together with the Oxford scientists, to see if anything could be done about those parasite-controlled rats that were driven to hang around cat urine-soaked corners (waiting for cats). According to a recent press release, haloperidol restores the rat's healthy fear of cat urine. In fact, antipsychotic drugs were as effective as pyrimethamine, a drug that specifically eliminates Toxoplasma.

Are parasites like Toxoplasma subtly altering human behavior? As it turns out, science fiction writers have been thinking about whether or not parasites could alter a human being's behavior, or even take control of a person. In his 1951 novel The Puppet Masters, Robert Heinlein wrote about alien parasites the size of dinner plates that took control of the minds of their hosts, flooding their brains with neurochemicals. In this excerpt, a volunteer strapped to a chair allows a parasite to be introduced; the parasite rides him, taking over his mind. Under these conditions, it is possible to interview the parasite; however, it refuses to answer until zapped with a cattle prod.

He reached past my shoulders with a rod. I felt a shocking, unbearable pain. The room blacked out as if a switch had been thrown.. I was split apart by it; for the moment I was masterless.

The pain left, leaving only its searing memory behind. Before I could speak, or even think coherently for myself, the splitting away had ended and I was again safe in the arms of my master...

The panic that possessed me washed away; I was again filled with an unworried sense of well being...

"What are you?"
"We are the people... We have studied you and we know your ways... We come," I went on, "to bring you peace.. and contentment-and the joy of-of surrender." I hesitated again; "surrender" was not the right word. I struggled with it the way one struggles with a poorly grasped foreign language.
"The joy," I repeated, "-the joy of . . .nirvana." That was it; the word fitted. I felt like a dog being patted for fetching a stick; I wriggled with pleasure.

Still not sure that parasites can manipulate the behavior of host organisms? Consider these other cases:

• The lancet fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum forces its ant host to attach to the tips of grass blades, the easier to be eaten. The fluke needs to get into the gut of a grazing animal to complete its life cycle.
• The fluke Euhaplorchis californiensis causes fish to shimmy and jump so wading birds will grab them and eat them, for the same reason.
• Hairworms, which live inside grasshoppers, sabotage the grasshopper's central nervous system, forcing them to jump into pools of water, drowning themselves. Hairworms then swim away from their hapless hosts to continue their life cycle.

Not all science-fictional parasites are harmful; read about the Crosswell tapeworm from Brian Aldiss' 1969 story Super-Toys Last All Summer Long (the basis for the Kubrick/Spielberg film AI), which keeps people who overeat from becoming obese. Not to mention robots based on parasites. Read press release on evidence for link between Toxoplasma and schizophrenia, Suicidal grasshoppers. Story via blogger Carl Zimmer and his readers.

(This Science Fiction in the News story used with permission from Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction.)

• Fine Line Revealed Between Creativity and Insanity
• Brain Breakthrough: Scientists Know What You'll Do

Parasites, Bacteria, Fungus effecting brain function.

Parasites, Microbes and Fungus have dramatic effects on the human brain not only in Children but also in adults. Infestation can occur in typically clean environments from even the most cautious of parents. Basiclly everyone is susceptable to infection from parasites, bacteria and fungus. Infestation occurs in one or more organs but can also be blood born and cross the Blood brain barrier and affect neurological function.

Parasite infection

An article in the June 27, 1978, Miami Herald stated that a nationwide survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control in 1976 revealed that one in every six people selected at random had one or more parasites. Projections for the year 2025 suggest that more than half of the 8.3 billion people on Earth will then be infected with parasitic diseases." lencopyrighted lencopyrighted.

"We have a tremendous parasite problem right here in the United States - it’s just not being identified." - Peter Weina, Ph.D., Chief of Pathobiology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 1991.

"I strongly believe that every human with disorders of immune function, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, Unexplained elevated Liver enzymes, multiple allergies (especially food allergy) should be tested for the presence of intestinal parasites.

How parasites affect brain function

Parasites often excrete toxins to increase their chance of survival these toxins will often change blood PH allowing the parasite to multiply and maintain its perfect host environment. Toxic excretions effect many bodily functions in the human body, espeically immunolgical and neurological function. The toxins excreted can cross the blood brain barrier and create inflammation in the brain, creating a mild encephalitis, they can also slow down and inhibate immune function, effecting concentration, comprehension and creating brain fog.

What Are Some of The Symptoms of Parasite Infestation?

These are only possible symptoms, and please keep in mind that not everyone that has a few of these symptoms should automatically make the assumption that they are infected; however, if you suspect infection or have been unsuccessfully treated for a problem, it is worth doing some specific parasite cleansing. Please take the test, share it with friends and family and if you’re open to being healthier, discuss it.

How Can These Parasites Affect Our Health?

Hulga Clark states in her book that she has seen cases of eczema due to roundworms; seizures from a single roundworm getting into the brain; schizophrenia and depression from parasites in the brain; asthma from a parasite in the lungs; diabetes from a parasite that comes from cattle that settles in the pancreas; migraines from a threadworm; acne rosacea from a parasite and some human heart disease from the dog heartworm. She says the list goes on. There have been some reports that parasite infection is suspected in cases of Lupus, MS, Alzheimer’s, and cancers. One thing we know for certain is that parasites compromise the immune system and when the immune system is not strong all kinds of degenerative conditions can result.

While doing a parasite cleansing program, maintaining or obtaining good elimination is an absolute must. If you suspect parasites could be part of your health challenges or have some of the symptoms listed, It is important to do a parasite cleanse program. You will not experience any ill side effects, if no parasites exist. Internal cleansing whether it is for parasites, cardiovascular, bowel, blood, lymph or whatever else you want to cleanse is essential for health.

Bacteria and the Brain

As already disscussed infection and inflammation lead to changes in mood and cognitiive processing. Common symptomology of an illness is referred to involve fatigue, tempreture, social withdrawal, and irritability, also other emotional responses accompany immune activation, including anxiety.

Recent studies have shown that gastrointestinal bacterial infections lead to enhanced anxiety-like behavior in mice.Infections lead to stimulation of areas of the brain that are responsible for the activation of emotions such as fear, anxiety and agrevation. These findings help us to understand the importance of gastrointestinal cleansing as part of a process in enhancing neurological function.

A critical piece of puzzle of how infection in the gut influences the brain and behavior regards the signals generated as a consequence of bacterial infection that serve to signal sensory neurons. Essentially bacterial infection stimulates an immune/inflammatory response, which in turn affects histamine, prostaglandins, ATP, adenosine, serotonin, cytokines including interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (Kirkup et al., 2001).

Additionally, or alternatively, gutt senistive neurons may respond directly to pathogens or pathogen excretions. These excretions build up in the brain and then induce the activation of emotional centres where the brain reacts in an anxiety, confusion or fear drivin state. .

A List of common syptoms of infestation include but are not restricted to

• Abdominal pain
• Myositis
• Constipation
• Anaemia
• Seizures
• Asthma
• Runny nose
• Anorexia
• B-12 deficiency
• Brain Fog
• Rectal hemorrhage
• Blindness
• Hematochezia
• Hemoptysis
• Dysuria
• Central nervous system impairment
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Chronic fatigue
• Colitis
• Coughing
• Diarrhea
• Digestive disturbance
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Enlargement of various organs
• Headaches
• Vaginitis
• Jaundice
• Joint Pain
• Weight loss due to malnutrition
• Weakness
• Immunodeficiency
• Nausea / Vomiting
• Swelling of facial features
• Sweating
• Insomnia
• Skin ulcers
• Rectal prolaspe
• Mood disorders
• Mental problems
• Lung congestion
• Memory loss
• Night sweets
• Muscle spasms

Parasites, Bacteria and fungus can be detected with specific testings,

Feacal Parasite and Microbial test is available from the Total Health Clinic and is available interstate for Australian Clients, contact the Total Health Clinic for your test kit today. 0755026399 or email admin@totalhealthclinic.co

Brain parasite drives human culture

Posted on 14 January, 2007 by Ed Yong

The brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, is spread by cats and affects a huge proportion of the world’s population. It’s effects on our behaviour make it a potent driving force of human culture.

We like to think that we are masters of our own fates. The thought that others might be instead controlling our actions makes us uneasy. We rail against nanny states, we react badly to media hype and we are appalled at the idea of brainwashing.

But words and images are not the only things that can affect our brains and thoughts. Other animals – parasites – can do this too.

Now, Kevin Lafferty from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has found startling evidence that a common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, could be influencing human culture across the globe.

Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled brain parasite spread by cats. Our feline companions are its preferred home and only there can it mature and reproduce. So like most parasites, T.gondii has a complex life cycle designed to get it into its final host.

If it finds itself in another animal, it travels to the brain and changes the host’s behaviour to maximise its chances of ending up in a cat. For rodents, this means being eaten and infected individuals are less fearful of cats and more active, making them easier prey.

Humans can also contract the parasite, through contact with soil contaminated by the faeces of carriers or through eating infected meat. But since cats are very unlikely to eat humans, in our bodies, T.gondii reaches a cul-de-sac. Still, there is nothing to stop the parasite, evolutionarily speaking, from trying out the strategies that work so well in other hosts.

In rare cases, T.gondii infection causes a disease called toxoplasmosis that produces mild flu-like symptoms and only really threatens foetuses and those with weak immune systems. In most instances, the parasite acts more subtly.

Carriers tend to show long-term personality changes. Women tend to be more intelligent, affectionate, social and more likely to stick to rules. Men on the other hand tend to be less intelligent, but are more loyal, frugal and mild-tempered. The one trait that carriers of both genders share is a higher level of neuroticism – they are more prone to guilt, self-doubt and insecurity.

In individuals cases, these effects may seem quirky or even charming but across populations, they can have a global power. T.gondii infection is extremely common and rates vary greatly from country to country.

While only 7% of Brits carry the parasite, a much larger 67% of Brazilians are infected. Given that the parasite alters behaviour, infection on this scale could lead to sizeable differences in the general personalities of people of different nationalities. This is exactly what Lafferty found.

Neuroticism is one of the most widely-studied of all psychological traits and Lafferty found that levels in different countries correlated well with the levels of T.gondii infection. The parasites’ presence was also related to aspects of culture associated with neuroticism.

Countries where infection was common were more likely to have ‘masculine sex roles’, characterized by greater differences between the sexes and their part in society and a stronger focus on work, ambition and money rather than people and relationships. Strongly infected societies were also more likely to avoid risk and embrace strict rules and regulations.

Obviously, different countries are also not just uniform populations, and increasing rates of migration mean that many countries are very ethnically and culturally mixed. However, this works in favour of Lafferty’s theory as any mixing would serve to mask the link between infection and culture. If anything, the link is stronger than seen in this study.

It would be imprudent to suggest that T.gondii is the major driver of human culture. It is just one of a number of influences that include genes, our physical environment and our histories. And Lafferty himself is quick to point out caveats to his own results.

For a start, they do not imply that the parasite is causing these personality types; it could be that people with these traits are more likely to become infected. To establish the true direction of causality, Lafferty will need to find out how the parasite manipulates the mind. The general idea is that infection alters levels of the immune system’s communication chemicals – the cytokines – which in turn alter levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine. But the details remain a mystery.

Nonetheless, the results are striking and they suggest that climate could have a larger effect on culture than previously thought. Toxoplasma gondii’s eggs live longer in humid, low regions so variations in climate could influence the global distribution of cultural traits. Perhaps, this could explain why men and women perform more distinct roles in society in countries in warmer climates. Other factors can also affect the risk of infection, including cat ownership and national cuisines that include undercooked meat.

We like to think of culture as something governed by the collective actions of free-thinking and free-acting humans. But Lafferty’s analysis shows us that if environmental factors like parasites can affect our thoughts and actions, no matter how subtly, they can have a strong effect on national cultures.

In many cases, these effects could be much stronger than the agents that we normally believe to drive cultural trends. After all, more people around the world are infected with Toxoplasma than are connected to the internet.

Reference: Lafferty. 2006. Proc Roy Soc B 273: 2749 – 2755.

Technorati Tags: brain parasite, Toxoplasma, parasites, parasite culture, human culture, science

Related posts on other parasites:

Worms track us down with a chemical trail
Genetically-modified mosquitoes fight malaria by outcompeting normal ones
Parasites can change the balance of entire communities
Viruses evolve to be more infectious in a well-connected population
The secret of drug-resistant bubonic plague