<---Toxoplasma gondii in liver cellsSo I learned this really cool fact in school today. We were talking about a disease called toxoplasmosis (the reason pregnant women can't clean out litter boxes) and its mode of transmission. Apparently, the parasite, toxoplasma gondii, only replicates in felines, so naturally it is to its advantage to obtain access to said cats. It does this through rodent hosts by acting in the amygdala of the brain. The amygdala is a major fear center, responsible for the innate rodent knowledge that cat smell=bad things. Toxoplasma gondii comes in and mucks this region up so that not only are the infected vermin not afraid of cat scent, some are even attracted to it. Resulting, obviously, in lots of satiated cats now the unwitting site of toxoplasma gondii replication.
Sometimes I wonder if the 'simple' organisms of the world aren't laughing to themselves at us higher mammals going unsuspectingly about our all-important business while they secretly control our brains.
Oooh, Toxoplasmosis and host/parasite interactions; how I love infectious disease and animal behavior. And, I am completely agree with you on your assessment of "simple" organisms. It's amazing how those little buggers can take down larger, more complex organisms with their sneaky techniques. We definitely underestimate their powers, that's for sure.
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