Question #150045. Asked by
BigTriviaDawg.
Last updated Oct 30 2023.
Originally posted Oct 30 2023 8:03 PM.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii... Infections with toxoplasmosis are associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric and behavioral conditions.
Infection with T. gondii has been shown to alter the behavior of mice and rats in ways thought to increase the rodents' chances of being preyed upon by cats. Infected rodents show a reduction in their innate aversion to cat odors; while uninfected mice and rats will generally avoid areas marked with cat urine or with cat body odor, this avoidance is reduced or eliminated in infected animals.
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