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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by OldSchool on March 12, 2002, at 12:42:14
This is an interesting article.
http://www.click10.com/mia/news/stories/news-45158620010207-220224.html
Cats And Schizophrenia Connection
Researchers Warn About Toxoplasmosis Effects
MIAMI, 10:40 a.m. EST February 8, 2001 -- Several prominent researchers believe that exposure to cats could be behind some forms of mental illness like schizophrenia or manic depression.
An estimated 10 percent of all cats carry a parasite like the one that causes a human infection called toxoplasmosis. The condition is especially dangerous for pregnant women because it can cause malformations, like mental retardation, or even kill an unborn child.
"We know that toxoplasmosis in some individuals -- if it gets in the brain -- can cause symptoms that are similar to schizophrenia," Dr. Fuller Torrey, of Uniformed Services University Health Sciences, said.
Torrey, a leading schizophrenia researcher, said that there is now growing evidence to show a toxoplasmosis infection could also be behind some cases of schizophrenia.
"We have found that there's an elevated antibodies to toxoplasmosis in the spinal fluid of people who have acute onset schizophrenia," Torrey said.
Antibodies, which are evidence of toxoplasmosis, have also been found in mothers who have given birth to children who later developed schizophrenia. Researchers have also looked at the rate of some mental illnesses in those who had been exposed to cats as children versus those who hadn't. They said that in two separate studies, people who suffered from schizophrenia and manic depression had more exposure to cats in childhood.
Those who research treatments for schizophrenia believe that the reality is this theory may fail.
"I remember people getting excited about a particular virus in New York as a cause of Alzheimer's disease and it turned out to be not at the cause of Alzheimer's disease, so we'll have to wait and see," Dr. Anne Andorn, of the University of Texas, said.
Torry said that cat owners should also take that wait and see attitude when it comes to his theory.
"I don't think anybody should panic and put their cats out," Torry said. "On the other hand, I have a grandchild. For example, if my daughter would ask me should we get a cat when we have a small child -- my answer should be no."
Part of that awareness begins with who comes knocking at your door. When pregnant friends visit, remind them not to touch the cat -- even if it's an indoor cat who isn't exposed to rats or mice, the source of the parasite.
If you are pregnant, have someone else clean the litter box. Cat feces is the biggest source of toxoplasma infection in the country. And remember, experts aren't saying you should get rid of your cat -- just be aware of the problem.
There is a test that can be done to see if your cat is a carrier of the toxoplasma parasite
Old School
Posted by Bekka H. on March 12, 2002, at 16:53:06
In reply to Exposure to cats may cause schizophrenia, posted by OldSchool on March 12, 2002, at 12:42:14
Meow.
(P.S. Welcome back, Old School)
Posted by IsoM on March 13, 2002, at 0:03:12
In reply to Exposure to cats may cause schizophrenia, posted by OldSchool on March 12, 2002, at 12:42:14
First, it's good to find the small truths about this report.
Indoor only cats will NOT, I repeat, NOT carry the toxoplasmosis parasite. Cats get it from eating other small prey carrying the parasite. Indoor cats can't get it from commercial cat food. Even if an outside cat eats small prey & does ingest the parasite, cysts are only passed in the cat's feces, at the most, for a month after the initial infection (& it takes 19 days before the cysts start passing, so the cysts are only passed for two weeks max). It then takes the cyststhat were passed another 24 hours to complete its life-cycle before it can reinfect someone. Which means if the feces (even from a recently infected cat) were cleaned oftener than once a day, transmission wouldn't occur.
The danger was more prevalent in the past when most cats were outdoors & caught & ate mice & other small rodents, used the soil outside & was played & gardened in. What should be mentioned is there's a *far greater danger* of a pregnant woman getting toxoplasmosis from gardening in soil where cats might have gone (they should definitely wear garden gloves!) and/or in eating meat that hasn't been sufficently cooked. Up to 42% of adult pigs killed for food have been shown to be infected with this parasite [Dubey, J.P. Toxoplasmosis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 1994. 205:1593-1598] & other meats are considered suspect too.
As for adults who have been previously infected with this parasite, I quote:
"Martin Hugh-Jones is the Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Veterinary Public Health. He states that the percentage of adult humans with antibodies to the toxoplasmic parasite increases with age. For example, about 18% of 18 year olds have antibodies, 25% of 25 year olds, up to a maximum of slightly more than 30% of adults. These antibodies are probably due to ingesting undercooked pork (4) or maintaining insufficient hygiene while handling raw meat."Really all this doesn't much show that cats are a worry for us. I think Torrey is freaked unnecessarily about cats. Maybe he should have done some checking with veternarian researchers too before he developed & wrote this report.
Posted by ST on March 13, 2002, at 5:48:13
In reply to Re: Exposure to cats may cause schizophrenia » OldSchool, posted by IsoM on March 13, 2002, at 0:03:12
nm
Posted by trouble on March 13, 2002, at 22:50:11
In reply to Re: Exposure to cats may cause schizophrenia » OldSchool, posted by IsoM on March 13, 2002, at 0:03:12
This is the end of the thread.
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