God only knows what else it does. This, Herpes, and Epstein Barr need more research.
It makes rodents lose fear of predators and become more likely to be eaten by a cat, which is where toxoplasmosis wants to live. It does this by literally changing the brain of the victim animal. Evidence is showing that the same effect happens in humans and we sometimes engage in riskier behavior as a result of infection.
On a more serious note, some think it might cause schizophrenia.
Apparently it makes men, but not women enjoy the smell of cat piss (it makes women enjoy cat piss less).
Toxoplasma can be picked up anywhere an infected cat has defecated, such as the litter box, sandbox, garden or yard.
Nice
Luckily they only walk around in their toilet and get it all over their skin-piercingly sharp claws. Wait…no. The opposite of lucky.
It’s because it is a fight we are not willing to wage. If it were dogs it would be the same.
There are so many public health problems that we just ignore like this and it’s fucking disgusting and terrifying