Open main menu

Opengenome.net β

Changes

Toxoplasmosis

69,927 bytes added, 21:49, 14 November 2009
no edit summary
<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading">Toxoplasmosis</h1>
<div id="bodyContent">
<h3 id="siteSub">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</h3>
<div id="contentSub"></div>
<div id="jump-to-nav"></div>
<!-- start content -->
<table style="FONT-SIZE: 88%; WIDTH: 22em; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.5em; TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellspacing="5" class="infobox">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th class="" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 125%; BACKGROUND-COLOR: lightgrey; TEXT-ALIGN: center" colspan="2">Toxoplasmosis</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" colspan="2"><em>Classification and external resources</em></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" colspan="2"><img height="190" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Toxoplasma_gondii_tachy.jpg/190px-Toxoplasma_gondii_tachy.jpg" width="190" /><br />
<span><em>T. gondii</em> tachyzoites</span></td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">ICD-10</th>
<td class="">B58.</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">ICD-9</th>
<td class="">130</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">DiseasesDB</th>
<td class="">13208</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">MedlinePlus</th>
<td class="">000637</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">eMedicine</th>
<td class="">med/2294</td>
</tr>
<tr class="">
<th style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">MeSH</th>
<td class="">D014123</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Toxoplasmosis</strong> is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sherris_0-0"><span>[</span>1<span>]</span></sup> The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid (cat) family. Animals are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of faeces of a cat that has itself recently been infected, or by transmission from mother to fetus. Cats have been shown as a major reservoir of this infection.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Torda_2001_1-0"><span>[</span>2<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>Up to one third of the world's human population is estimated to carry a <em>Toxoplasma</em> infection.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Montoya_2004_2-0"><span>[</span>3<span>]</span></sup> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that overall seroprevalence in the United States as determined with specimens collected by the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2004 was found to be 10.8%, with seroprevalence among women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years) of 11%.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jones_2007_3-0"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>During the first few weeks, the infection typically causes a mild flu-like illness or no illness. After the first few weeks of infection have passed, the parasite rarely causes any symptoms in otherwise healthy adults. However, people with a weakened immune system, such as those infected with advanced HIV disease or those who are pregnant, may become seriously ill, and it can occasionally be fatal. The parasite can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and neurologic diseases and can affect the heart, liver, and eyes (<font color="#810081">chorioretinitis</font>).</p>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
if (window.showTocToggle) { var tocShowText = "show"; var tocHideText = "hide"; showTocToggle(); }
//]]>
</script>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Symptoms">Symptoms</span></h2>
<p>Infection has two stages:</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Acute_toxoplasmosis">Acute toxoplasmosis</span></h3>
<p>During acute toxoplasmosis, symptoms are often influenza-like: swollen lymph nodes, or muscle aches and pains that last for a month or more. Rarely, a patient with a fully functioning immune system may develop eye damage or nasal lesions from toxoplasmosis. Young children and immunocompromised patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS, those taking certain types of chemotherapy, or those who have recently received an organ transplant, may develop severe toxoplasmosis. This can cause damage to the brain (encephalitis) or the eyes (necrotizing retinochoroiditis). Only a small percentage of infected newborn babies have serious eye and brain damage or nasal malformations at birth.</p>
<p>Swollen lymph nodes are more commonly found in the neck followed by axillae and then groin. Swelling may occur at different times after the initial infection, persist, and/or recur for various times independently of antiparasitic treatment.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><span>[</span>5<span>]</span></sup> It is usually found at single sites in adults, but in children multiple sites may be more common. Enlarged lymph nodes will resolve within one to two months in 60% of patients. However, a quarter of patients take 2&ndash;4 months to return to normal and 8% take 4&ndash;6 months. A substantial number of patients (6%) do not return to normal until much later.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><span>[</span>6<span>]</span></sup></p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Latent_toxoplasmosis">Latent toxoplasmosis</span></h3>
<p>Most patients who become infected with <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> and develop toxoplasmosis do not know it. In most immunocompetent patients, the infection enters a latent phase, during which only bradyzoites are present, forming cysts in nervous and muscle tissue. Most infants who are infected while in the womb have no symptoms at birth but may develop symptoms later in life.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6"><span>[</span>7<span>]</span></sup></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Possible_link_to_psychiatric_disorders">Possible link to psychiatric disorders</span></h2>
<p>Although it is under debate, the toxoplasmosis parasite is believed to be a possible cause for the development of schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, Parkinson&rsquo;s Disease and attention deficit disorders.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from August 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup> The University of Leeds&rsquo; Faculty of Biological Sciences has shown a statistical link between toxoplasmosis infections and incidences of schizophrenia. Research finds that a person with schizophrenia is more likely to have toxoplasmosis than the general population.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><span>[</span>8<span>]</span></sup> The parasite produces an enzyme called tyrosine hydroxylase which may contribute to the development of these psychological disorders by affecting the production of dopamine. These changes in the chemistry of the brain can significantly affect behaviour. Well documented is dopamine&rsquo;s role in mood, sociability, attention, and motivation and sleep patterns. Schizophrenia has long been associated with dopamine, which is targeted by all currently available schizophrenia drugs. Research is ongoing to confirm whether or not there is a causal link, which is proving difficult because there are many factors involved. Health risks of toxoplasmosis include occasional fatalities.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-8"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></sup></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Diagnosis">Diagnosis</span></h2>
<p>Detection of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> in human blood samples may be achieved by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-9"><span>[</span>10<span>]</span></sup> Inactive cysts may exist in a host which would evade detection.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Transmission">Transmission</span></h2>
<div class="thumb tright">
<div class="thumbinner" style="WIDTH: 212px"><img class="thumbimage" height="275" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Toxoplasma_gondii_Life_cycle_PHIL_3421_lores.jpg/210px-Toxoplasma_gondii_Life_cycle_PHIL_3421_lores.jpg" width="210" />
<div class="thumbcaption">
<div class="magnify"><img height="11" alt="" src="http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png" width="15" /></div>
Life cycle of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>.</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Transmission may occur through:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ingestion of raw or partly cooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or venison containing <em>Toxoplasma</em> cysts. Infection prevalence in countries where undercooked meat is traditionally eaten has been related to this transmission method. Oocysts may also be ingested during hand-to-mouth contact after handling undercooked meat, or from using knives, utensils, or cutting boards contaminated by raw meat.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CDC_10-0"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Ingestion of contaminated cat feces. This can occur through hand-to-mouth contact following gardening, cleaning a cat's litter box, contact with children's sandpits, or touching anything that has come into contact with cat faeces. </li>
<li>Drinking water contaminated with <em>Toxoplasma</em>. </li>
<li>Transplacental infection in utero. </li>
<li>Receiving an infected organ transplant or blood transfusion, although this is extremely rare.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CDC_10-1"><span>[</span>11<span>]</span></sup> </li>
</ul>
<p>The cyst form of the parasite is extremely hardy, capable of surviving exposure to freezing down to &minus;12 degrees Celsius (10 degrees Fahrenheit), moderate temperatures and chemical disinfectants such as bleach, and can survive in the environment for over a year. It is, however, susceptible to high temperatures&mdash;above 66 degrees Celsius (150 degrees Fahrenheit), and is thus killed by thorough cooking, and would be killed by 24 hours in a typical domestic freezer.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11"><span>[</span>12<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>Cats excrete the pathogen in their faeces for a number of weeks after contracting the disease, generally by eating an infected rodent. Even then, cat faeces are not generally contagious for the first day or two after excretion, after which the cyst 'ripens' and becomes potentially pathogenic<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from June 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup>. Studies have shown that only about 2% of cats are shedding oocysts at any one time<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from June 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup>, and that oocyst shedding does not recur even after repeated exposure to the parasite<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from June 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup>. Although the pathogen has been detected on the fur of cats, it has not been found in an infectious form, and direct infection from handling cats is generally believed to be very rare.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from June 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup></p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Pregnancy_precautions">Pregnancy precautions</span></h3>
<p>Congenital toxoplasmosis is a special form in which an unborn child is infected via the placenta. A positive antibody titer indicates previous exposure and immunity and largely ensures the unborn baby's safety. A simple blood draw at the first pre-natal doctor visit can determine whether or not the woman has had previous exposure and therefore whether or not she is at risk. If a woman receives her first exposure to toxoplasmosis while pregnant, the baby is at particular risk. A woman with no previous exposure should avoid handling raw meat, exposure to cat feces, and gardening (cat feces are common in garden soil). Most cats are not actively shedding oocysts and so are not a danger, but the risk may be reduced further by having the litterbox emptied daily (oocysts require longer than a single day to become infective), and by having someone else empty the litterbox. However, while risks can be minimized, they cannot be eliminated. For pregnant women with negative antibody titer, indicating no previous exposure to <em>T. gondii</em>, as frequent as monthly serology testing is advisable as treatment during pregnancy for those women exposed to <em>T. gondii</em> for the first time decreases dramatically the risk of passing the parasite to the fetus.</p>
<p>Despite these risks, pregnant women are not routinely screened for toxoplasmosis in most countries (Portugal,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Circular_DGS_12-0"><span>[</span>13<span>]</span></sup> France,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sukthana_2006_13-0"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></sup> Austria,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sukthana_2006_13-1"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></sup> and Italy<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Paschale_2008_14-0"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></sup> being the exceptions) for reasons of cost-effectiveness and the high number of false positives generated as the disease is so rare (an example of Bayesian statistics). As invasive prenatal testing incurs some risk to the fetus (18.5 pregnancy losses per toxoplasmosis case prevented),<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sukthana_2006_13-2"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></sup> postnatal or neonatal screening is preferred. The exceptions are cases where fetal abnormalities are noted, and thus screening can be targeted.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sukthana_2006_13-3"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>Some regional screening programmes operate in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Paschale_2008_14-1"><span>[</span>15<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>Treatment is very important for recently infected pregnant women, to prevent infection of the fetus. Since a baby's immune system does not develop fully for the first year of life, and the resilient cysts that form throughout the body are very difficult to eradicate with anti-protozoans, an infection can be very serious in the young.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Treatment">Treatment</span></h2>
<p>Treatment is often only recommended for people with serious health problems, because the disease is most serious when one's immune system is weak.</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Acute">Acute</span></h3>
<p>Medications that are prescribed for acute toxoplasmosis are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Pyrimethamine </li>
</ul>
<dl><dd>an antimalarial medication. </dd></dl>
<ul>
<li>Sulfadiazine </li>
</ul>
<dl><dd>an antibiotic used in combination with pyrimethamine to treat toxoplasmosis. </dd></dl>
<ul>
<li>clindamycin </li>
</ul>
<dl><dd>an antibiotic used most often for people with HIV/AIDS. </dd></dl>
<ul>
<li>spiramycin </li>
</ul>
<dl><dd>an antibiotic used most often for pregnant women to prevent the infection of their child. </dd></dl>
<p>(Other antibiotics such as minocycline have seen some use as a salvage therapy).</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Latent">Latent</span></h3>
<p>In people with latent toxoplasmosis, the cysts are immune to these treatments, as the antibiotics do not reach the bradyzoites in sufficient concentration.</p>
<p>Medications that are prescribed for latent toxoplasmosis are:</p>
<ul>
<li>atovaquone </li>
</ul>
<dl><dd>an antibiotic that has been used to kill <em>Toxoplasma</em> cysts inside AIDS patients. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15"><span>[</span>16<span>]</span></sup> </dd></dl>
<ul>
<li>clindamycin </li>
</ul>
<dl><dd>an antibiotic which, in combination with atovaquone, seemed to optimally kill cysts in mice.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16"><span>[</span>17<span>]</span></sup> </dd></dl>
<p>However, in latent infections successful treatment is not guaranteed, and some subspecies exhibit resistance.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Biological_modifications_of_the_host">Biological modifications of the host</span></h2>
<p>The parasite itself can cause various effects on the host body, some of which are not fully understood.</p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Reproductive_changes">Reproductive changes</span></h3>
<p>A recent study has indicated toxoplasmosis correlates strongly with an increase in boy births in humans.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Flegr_17-0"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></sup> According to the researchers, &quot;depending on the antibody concentration, the probability of the birth of a boy can increase up to a value of 0.72 ... which means that for every 260 boys born, 100 girls are born.&quot; The study also notes a mean rate of 0.608 (as opposed to the normal 0.51) for <em>Toxoplasma</em>-positive mothers. The study explains that this effect may not significantly influence the actual sex ratio of children born in countries with high rates of latent toxoplasmosis infection because &quot;In high-prevalence countries, most women of reproductive age have already been infected for a long time and therefore have only low titres of anti-<em>Toxoplasma</em> antibodies. Our results suggest that low-titre women have similar sex ratios to <em>Toxoplasma</em>-negative women.&quot;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Flegr_17-1"><span>[</span>18<span>]</span></sup></p>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="Behavioral_changes">Behavioral changes</span></h3>
<p>It has been found that the parasite has the ability to change the behaviour of its host: infected rats and mice are less fearful of cats&mdash;in fact, some of the infected rats seek out cat-urine-marked areas. This effect is advantageous to the parasite, which will be able to proliferate as a cat could eat the infected rat and then reproduce. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18"><span>[</span>19<span>]</span></sup> The mechanism for this change is not completely understood, but there is evidence that toxoplasmosis infection raises dopamine levels and concentrates in the amygdala in infected mice<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from September 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup>.</p>
<p>The findings of behavioural alteration in rats and mice have led some scientists to speculate that <em>Toxoplasma</em> may have similar effects in humans, even in the latent phase that had previously been considered asymptomatic. <em>Toxoplasma</em> is one of a number of parasites that may alter their host's behaviour as a part of their life cycle.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-dailym_19-0"><span>[</span>20<span>]</span></sup> The behaviors observed, if caused by the parasite, are likely due to infection and low-grade encephalitis, which is marked by the presence of cysts in the human brain, which may produce or induce production of a neurotransmitter, possibly dopamine,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-incrisk1_20-0"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></sup> therefore acting similarly to dopamine reuptake inhibitor type antidepressants and stimulants.</p>
<p>Correlations have been found between latent <em>Toxoplasma</em> infections and various characteristics:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Zimmer1Aug2006_21-0"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></sup></p>
<ul>
<li>Decreased novelty-seeking behaviour<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Flegr2007_22-0"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Slower reactions </li>
<li>Lower rule-consciousness and greater jealousy (in men)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Flegr2007_22-1"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Promiscuity and greater conscientiousness (in women)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Flegr2007_22-2"><span>[</span>23<span>]</span></sup> </li>
</ul>
<p>The evidence for behavioral effects on humans is controversial (see a collection of research papers at http://natur.cuni.cz/flegr/publ.php).<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from July 2008" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup> No prospective research has been done on the topic, e.g., testing people before and after infection to ensure that the proposed behavior arises only afterwards. Although some researchers have found potentially important associations with <em>Toxoplasma</em>, the causal relationship, if any, is unknown, i.e., it is possible that these associations merely reflect factors that predispose certain types of people to infection. However, many of the neurobehavioral symptoms that are postulated to be due to toxoplasmosis correlate to the general function of dopamine in the human brain, and the fact that toxoplasmosis upregulates the production of dopamine-stimulating tyrosine hydroxylase enzymes makes it likely that neurobehavioral symptoms can result from infection.</p>
<p>Studies have found that toxoplasmosis is associated with an increased car accident rate in people with Rh-negative blood. The chance of an accident relative to uninfected people is increased roughly 2.5 times.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-incrisk1_20-1"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-incrisk4_23-0"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24"><span>[</span>25<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>This may be due to the slowed reaction times that are associated with infection.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-incrisk4_23-1"><span>[</span>24<span>]</span></sup> &quot;If our data are true then about a million people a year die just because they are infected with <em>Toxoplasma</em>,&quot; the researcher Jaroslav Flegr told <em>The Guardian</em>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-guar1_25-0"><span>[</span>26<span>]</span></sup> The data shows that the risk decreases with time after infection, but is not due to age.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-incrisk1_20-2"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></sup> Ruth Gilbert, medical coordinator of the European Multicentre Study on Congenital Toxoplasmosis, told <em>BBC News Online</em> these findings could be due to chance, or due to social and cultural factors associated with <em>Toxoplasma</em> infection.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bbcgilb_26-0"><span>[</span>27<span>]</span></sup> However there is also evidence of a delayed effect which increases reaction times.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-27"><span>[</span>28<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>Other studies suggest that the parasite may influence personality. There are claims of <em>Toxoplasma</em> causing antisocial attitudes in men and promiscuity<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-timescats_28-0"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></sup> (or even &quot;signs of higher intelligence&quot;<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-guar2_29-0"><span>[</span>30<span>]</span></sup> ) in women, and greater susceptibility to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in all infected persons.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-timescats_28-1"><span>[</span>29<span>]</span></sup> A 2004 study found that <em>Toxoplasma</em> &quot;probably induce[s] a decrease of novelty seeking.&quot; <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-bmc_30-0"><span>[</span>31<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>According to Sydney University of Technology infectious disease researcher Nicky Boulter in an article that appeared in the January/February 2007 edition of Australasian Science magazine, <em>Toxoplasma</em> infections lead to changes depending on the sex of the infected person. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-SMH_Parasite_article_31-0"><span>[</span>32<span>]</span></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ABCNews_32-0"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>The study suggests that male carriers have shorter attention spans, a greater likelihood of breaking rules and taking risks, and are more independent, anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose. It also suggests that these men are deemed less attractive to women. Women carriers are suggested to be more outgoing, friendly, more promiscuous, and are considered more attractive to men compared with non-infected controls. The results are shown to be true when tested on mice, though it is still inconclusive. A few scientists have suggested that, if these effects are genuine, prevalence of toxoplasmosis could be a major determinant of cultural differences.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Zimmer1Aug2006_21-1"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-ABCNews_32-1"><span>[</span>33<span>]</span></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kevin_Lafferty_press_release_33-0"><span>[</span>34<span>]</span></sup></p>
<h4><span class="mw-headline" id="Toxoplasma.27s_role_in_schizophrenia"><em>Toxoplasma'</em>s role in schizophrenia</span></h4>
<p>The possibility that toxoplasmosis is one cause of schizophrenia has been studied by scientists since at least 1953.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pmid14725265_34-0"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></sup> These studies had attracted little attention from U.S. researchers until they were publicized through the work of prominent psychiatrist and advocate E. Fuller Torrey. In 2003, Torrey published a review of this literature, reporting that almost all the studies had found that schizophrenics have elevated rates of <em>Toxoplasma</em> infection.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pmid14725265_34-1"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></sup> A 2006 paper has even suggested that prevalence of toxoplasmosis has large-scale effects on national culture.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Lafferty_35-0"><span>[</span>36<span>]</span></sup> These types of studies are suggestive but cannot confirm a causal relationship (because of the possibility, for example, that schizophrenia increases the likelihood of <em>Toxoplasma</em> infection rather than the other way around).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pmid14725265_34-2"><span>[</span>35<span>]</span></sup></p>
<ul>
<li>Acute <em>Toxoplasma</em> infection sometimes leads to psychotic symptoms not unlike schizophrenia. </li>
<li>Some anti-psychotic medications that are used to treat schizophrenia, such as haloperidol, also stop the growth of <em>Toxoplasma</em> in cell cultures. </li>
<li>Several studies have found significantly higher levels of <em>Toxoplasma</em> antibodies in schizophrenia patients compared to the general population.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Wang_2006_36-0"><span>[</span>37<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li><em>Toxoplasma</em> infection causes damage to astrocytes in the brain, and such damage is also seen in schizophrenia<sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from March 2008" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup>. </li>
</ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Epidemiology">Epidemiology</span></h2>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="In_humans">In humans</span></h3>
<p>The U.S. NHANES (1999-2004) national probability sample found that 10.8% of U.S. persons 6&ndash;49 years of age, and 11.0% of women 15&ndash;44 years of age, had <em>Toxoplasma</em>-specific IgG antibodies, indicating that they had been infected with the organism. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jones_2007_3-1"><span>[</span>4<span>]</span></sup> This prevalence has significantly decreased from the NHANES III (1988-1994). <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jones_2001_37-0"><span>[</span>38<span>]</span></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jones_2004_38-0"><span>[</span>39<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>It is estimated that between 30% and 65% of all people worldwide are infected with toxoplasmosis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Tenter_2000_39-0"><span>[</span>40<span>]</span></sup> However, there is large variation between countries: in France, for example, around 88% of the population are carriers, probably due to a high consumption of raw and lightly cooked meat. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-40"><span>[</span>41<span>]</span></sup> Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil also have high prevalences of around 80%, over 80%<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-41"><span>[</span>42<span>]</span></sup> and 67% respectively. In Britain about 22% are carriers, and South Korea's rate is 4.3%.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Zimmer1Aug2006_21-2"><span>[</span>22<span>]</span></sup></p>
<p>Two risk factors for contracting toxoplasmosis are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Infants born to mothers who became infected with <em>Toxoplasma</em> for the first time during or just before pregnancy. </li>
<li>Persons with severely weakened immune systems, such as those with AIDS. Illness may result from an acute <em>Toxoplasma</em> infection or reactivation of an infection that occurred earlier in life. </li>
</ul>
<h3><span class="mw-headline" id="In_other_animals">In other animals</span></h3>
<p>A University of California, Davis study of dead sea otters collected from 1998 to 2004 found that toxoplasmosis was the cause of death for 13% of the animals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Conrad_2005_42-0"><span>[</span>43<span>]</span></sup> Proximity to freshwater outflows into the ocean was a major risk factor. Ingestion of oocysts from cat faeces is considered to be the most likely ultimate source.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-npr1_43-0"><span>[</span>44<span>]</span></sup> According to an article in <em>New Scientist</em><sup class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from September 2009" style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap">[<em>citation needed</em>]</sup> the parasites have been found in dolphins and whales. Researchers Black and Massie believe that anchovies, which travel from estuaries into the open ocean, may be helping to spread the disease.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Research_history">Research history</span></h2>
<p>The protozoan was first discovered by Nicolle &amp; Manceaux, who in 1908 isolated it from the African rodent <em>Ctenodactylus gundi</em>, then in 1909 differentiated the disease from <em>Leishmania</em> and named it <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sukthana_2006_13-4"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></sup> The first recorded congenital case was not until 1923, and the first adult case not until 1940.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sukthana_2006_13-5"><span>[</span>14<span>]</span></sup> In 1948, a serological dye test was created by Sabin &amp; Feldman, which is now the standard basis for diagnostic tests.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44"><span>[</span>45<span>]</span></sup></p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Notable_people_with_toxoplasmosis">Notable people with toxoplasmosis</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Arthur Ashe developed neurological problems from toxoplasmosis (and was later found to be HIV-positive).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-45"><span>[</span>46<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Prince Fran&ccedil;ois, Count of Clermont, pretender to the Throne of France (his disability has caused him to be overlooked in the line of succession). </li>
<li>Leslie Ash contracted toxoplasmosis in the second month of pregnancy.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46"><span>[</span>47<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Sebastian Coe (British middle distance runner)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47"><span>[</span>48<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Martina Navr&aacute;tilov&aacute; (tennis player) retired from a competition in 1982 with symptoms of a mystery 'virus' that were later found to be due to toxoplasmosis.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-48"><span>[</span>49<span>]</span></sup> </li>
<li>Louis Wain was a prominent cat artist who later developed schizophrenia, which some believe was due to toxoplasmosis resulting from his prolonged exposure to cats.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-49"><span>[</span>50<span>]</span></sup> </li>
</ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="Literature_and_Film">Literature and Film</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Toxoplasmosis is often referenced in <em>Peeps</em>, a 2005 novel by Scott Westerfeld. </li>
<li>In the 1996 film Trainspotting, a young man with AIDS acquires toxoplasmosis. </li>
<li>Toxoplasmosis is referenced in <em>And The Band Played On</em>, a 1993 American television film docudrama directed by Roger Spottiswoode. The teleplay by Arnold Schulman is based on the best-selling 1987 non-fiction book <em>And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic</em> by Randy Shilts. </li>
<li>Toxoplasmosis is referred to at the end of the British TV series Doc Martin, Series 4, Episode 6: &quot;MidWife Crisis&quot;, first broadcast on 25th October, 2009. This was in relation to eating roadkill, including &quot;Badger Burgers&quot;. </li>
</ul>
<p>Toxoplasmosis is reffered to in one episode of the first series of House M.D.</p>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="See_also">See also</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>List of parasites (human) </li>
</ul>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span></h2>
<div class="references-small references-column-count references-column-count-2" style="-moz-column-count: 2; column-count: 2">
<ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-Sherris-0"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation book">Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). <em>Sherris Medical Microbiology</em> (4th ed.). McGraw Hill. pp.&nbsp;723&ndash;7. ISBN 0838585299.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Sherris+Medical+Microbiology&amp;rft.aulast=Ryan+KJ%3B+Ray+CG+%28editors%29&amp;rft.au=Ryan+KJ%3B+Ray+CG+%28editors%29&amp;rft.date=2004&amp;rft.pages=pp.%26nbsp%3B723%E2%80%937&amp;rft.edition=4th&amp;rft.pub=McGraw+Hill&amp;rft.isbn=0838585299&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Torda_2001-1"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Torda A (2001). &quot;Toxoplasmosis. Are cats really the source?&quot;. <em>Aust Fam Physician</em> <strong>30</strong> (8): 743&ndash;7. PMID 11681144.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Toxoplasmosis.+Are+cats+really+the+source%3F&amp;rft.jtitle=Aust+Fam+Physician&amp;rft.aulast=Torda+A&amp;rft.au=Torda+A&amp;rft.date=2001&amp;rft.volume=30&amp;rft.issue=8&amp;rft.pages=743%E2%80%937&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/11681144&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Montoya_2004-2"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Montoya J, Liesenfeld O (2004). &quot;Toxoplasmosis&quot;. <em>Lancet</em> <strong>363</strong> (9425): 1965&ndash;76. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16412-X</span>. PMID 15194258.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Toxoplasmosis&amp;rft.jtitle=Lancet&amp;rft.aulast=Montoya+J%2C+Liesenfeld+O&amp;rft.au=Montoya+J%2C+Liesenfeld+O&amp;rft.date=2004&amp;rft.volume=363&amp;rft.issue=9425&amp;rft.pages=1965%E2%80%9376&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2804%2916412-X&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/15194258&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Jones_2007-3">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Jones JL, Kruszon-Moran D, Sanders-Lewis K, Wilson M (2007). &quot;<em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> infection in the United States, 1999-2004, decline from the prior decade&quot;. <em>Am J Trop Med Hyg</em> <strong>77</strong> (3): 405&ndash;10. PMID 17827351.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=%27%27Toxoplasma+gondii%27%27+infection+in+the+United+States%2C+1999-2004%2C+decline+from+the+prior+decade&amp;rft.jtitle=Am+J+Trop+Med+Hyg&amp;rft.aulast=Jones+JL%2C+Kruszon-Moran+D%2C+Sanders-Lewis+K%2C+Wilson+M&amp;rft.au=Jones+JL%2C+Kruszon-Moran+D%2C+Sanders-Lewis+K%2C+Wilson+M&amp;rft.date=2007&amp;rft.volume=77&amp;rft.issue=3&amp;rft.pages=405%E2%80%9310&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/17827351&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-4"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Paul M (01 July 1999). &quot;Immunoglobulin G avidity in diagnosis of toxoplasmic lymphadenopathy and ocular toxoplasmosis&quot;. <em>Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol.</em> <strong>6</strong> (4): 514&ndash;8. PMID 10391853. PMC 95718<span class="printonly">. http://cvi.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&amp;pmid=10391853</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Immunoglobulin+G+avidity+in+diagnosis+of+toxoplasmic+lymphadenopathy+and+ocular+toxoplasmosis&amp;rft.jtitle=Clin.+Diagn.+Lab.+Immunol.&amp;rft.aulast=Paul+M&amp;rft.au=Paul+M&amp;rft.date=01+July+1999&amp;rft.volume=6&amp;rft.issue=4&amp;rft.pages=514%E2%80%938&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/10391853&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcvi.asm.org%2Fcgi%2Fpmidlookup%3Fview%3Dlong%26pmid%3D10391853&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-5"><strong>^</strong> http://www.btinternet.com/~ukneqas.parasitologyscheme/Toxoplasma_Scheme/Teaching_Information/_Lymphadenopathy/_lymphadenopathy.html </li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><strong>^</strong> Randall Parker: Humans Get Personality Altering Infections From Cats. September 30, 2003 </li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><strong>^</strong> redOrbit: Researchers Link Parasites To Schizophrenia. March 19, 2009 </li>
<li id="cite_note-8"><strong>^</strong> Science Daily: Toxoplasmosis Parasite May Trigger Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorders. March 11, 2009 </li>
<li id="cite_note-9"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Ho-Yen DO, Joss AW, Balfour AH, Smyth ET, Baird D, Chatterton JM (October 1992). &quot;Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect Toxoplasma gondii in human blood samples&quot;. <em>J. Clin. Pathol.</em> <strong>45</strong> (10): 910&ndash;3. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1136/jcp.45.10.910</span>. PMID 1430262. PMC 495065<span class="printonly">. http://jcp.bmj.com/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&amp;pmid=1430262</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Use+of+the+polymerase+chain+reaction+to+detect+Toxoplasma+gondii+in+human+blood+samples&amp;rft.jtitle=J.+Clin.+Pathol.&amp;rft.aulast=Ho-Yen+DO%2C+Joss+AW%2C+Balfour+AH%2C+Smyth+ET%2C+Baird+D%2C+Chatterton+JM&amp;rft.au=Ho-Yen+DO%2C+Joss+AW%2C+Balfour+AH%2C+Smyth+ET%2C+Baird+D%2C+Chatterton+JM&amp;rft.date=October+1992&amp;rft.volume=45&amp;rft.issue=10&amp;rft.pages=910%E2%80%933&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1136%2Fjcp.45.10.910&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/1430262&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fjcp.bmj.com%2Fcgi%2Fpmidlookup%3Fview%3Dlong%26pmid%3D1430262&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-CDC-10">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation web">&quot;Toxoplasmosis&quot;. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 2004-11-22<span class="printonly">. http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/DPDx/HTML/Toxoplasmosis.htm</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Toxoplasmosis&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=2004-11-22&amp;rft.pub=Centers+of+Disease+Control+and+Prevention&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpd.cdc.gov%2FDPDx%2FHTML%2FToxoplasmosis.htm&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-11"><strong>^</strong> North Carolina Department of Agriculture &amp; Consumer Services </li>
<li id="cite_note-Circular_DGS-12"><strong>^</strong> Circular Normativa sobre Cuidados Pr&eacute;-Cocepcionais - Direc&ccedil;&atilde;o-Geral de Sa&uacute;de </li>
<li id="cite_note-Sukthana_2006-13">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>c</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>d</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>e</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>f</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Sukthana Y (March 2006). &quot;Toxoplasmosis: beyond animals to humans&quot;. <em>Trends Parasitol.</em> <strong>22</strong> (3): 137&ndash;42. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1016/j.pt.2006.01.007</span>. PMID 16446116<span class="printonly">. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1471-4922(06)00023-7</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Toxoplasmosis%3A+beyond+animals+to+humans&amp;rft.jtitle=Trends+Parasitol.&amp;rft.aulast=Sukthana+Y&amp;rft.au=Sukthana+Y&amp;rft.date=March+2006&amp;rft.volume=22&amp;rft.issue=3&amp;rft.pages=137%E2%80%9342&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1016%2Fj.pt.2006.01.007&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/16446116&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1471-4922%2806%2900023-7&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Paschale_2008-14">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> M. De Paschale, C. Agrappi, P. Clerici, P. Mirri, M. T. Manco, S. Cavallari and E. F. Vigan&ograve;: Seroprevalence and incidence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the Legnano area of Italy. <em>Clinical Microbiology and Infection</em> Volume 14 Issue 2 (2007), Pages 186 - 189. </li>
<li id="cite_note-15"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation web">&quot;Toxoplasmosis - treatment key research&quot;. NAM &amp; aidsmap. 2005-11-02<span class="printonly">. http://www.aidsmap.com/en/docs/659BAD5D-332A-4F8D-9F93-8D0F470B2D32.asp</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Toxoplasmosis+-+treatment+key+research&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=2005-11-02&amp;rft.pub=NAM+%26+aidsmap&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aidsmap.com%2Fen%2Fdocs%2F659BAD5D-332A-4F8D-9F93-8D0F470B2D32.asp&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-16"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Djurković-Djaković O, Milenković V, Nikolić A, Bobić B, Grujić J (2002). &quot;Efficacy of atovaquone combined with clindamycin against murine infection with a cystogenic (Me49) strain of Toxoplasma gondii&quot; (PDF). <em>J Antimicrob Chemother</em> <strong>50</strong> (6): 981&ndash;7. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1093/jac/dkf251</span>. PMID 12461021<span class="printonly">. http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/6/981.pdf</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Efficacy+of+atovaquone+combined+with+clindamycin+against+murine+infection+with+a+cystogenic+%28Me49%29+strain+of+Toxoplasma+gondii&amp;rft.jtitle=J+Antimicrob+Chemother&amp;rft.aulast=Djurkovi%C4%87-Djakovi%C4%87+O%2C+Milenkovi%C4%87+V%2C+Nikoli%C4%87+A%2C+Bobi%C4%87+B%2C+Gruji%C4%87+J&amp;rft.au=Djurkovi%C4%87-Djakovi%C4%87+O%2C+Milenkovi%C4%87+V%2C+Nikoli%C4%87+A%2C+Bobi%C4%87+B%2C+Gruji%C4%87+J&amp;rft.date=2002&amp;rft.volume=50&amp;rft.issue=6&amp;rft.pages=981%E2%80%937&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1093%2Fjac%2Fdkf251&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/12461021&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fjac.oxfordjournals.org%2Fcgi%2Freprint%2F50%2F6%2F981.pdf&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Flegr-17">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Kankov&aacute; S, Sulc J, Nouzov&aacute; K, Fajfrl&iacute;k K, Frynta D, Flegr J (February 2007). &quot;Women infected with parasite Toxoplasma have more sons&quot;. <em>Naturwissenschaften</em> <strong>94</strong> (2): 122&ndash;7. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1007/s00114-006-0166-2</span>. PMID 17028886<span class="printonly">. http://www.natur.cuni.cz/~flegr/pdf/toxosons.pdf</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Women+infected+with+parasite+Toxoplasma+have+more+sons&amp;rft.jtitle=Naturwissenschaften&amp;rft.aulast=Kankov%C3%A1+S%2C+Sulc+J%2C+Nouzov%C3%A1+K%2C+Fajfrl%C3%ADk+K%2C+Frynta+D%2C+Flegr+J&amp;rft.au=Kankov%C3%A1+S%2C+Sulc+J%2C+Nouzov%C3%A1+K%2C+Fajfrl%C3%ADk+K%2C+Frynta+D%2C+Flegr+J&amp;rft.date=February+2007&amp;rft.volume=94&amp;rft.issue=2&amp;rft.pages=122%E2%80%937&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1007%2Fs00114-006-0166-2&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/17028886&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.natur.cuni.cz%2F%7Eflegr%2Fpdf%2Ftoxosons.pdf&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-18"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Berdoy M, Webster JP, Macdonald DW (August 2000). &quot;Fatal attraction in rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii&quot;. <em>Proc. Biol. Sci.</em> <strong>267</strong> (1452): 1591&ndash;4. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1098/rspb.2000.1182</span>. PMID 11007336. PMC 1690701<span class="printonly">. http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&amp;pmid=11007336</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Fatal+attraction+in+rats+infected+with+Toxoplasma+gondii&amp;rft.jtitle=Proc.+Biol.+Sci.&amp;rft.aulast=Berdoy+M%2C+Webster+JP%2C+Macdonald+DW&amp;rft.au=Berdoy+M%2C+Webster+JP%2C+Macdonald+DW&amp;rft.date=August+2000&amp;rft.volume=267&amp;rft.issue=1452&amp;rft.pages=1591%E2%80%934&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1098%2Frspb.2000.1182&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/11007336&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Frspb.royalsocietypublishing.org%2Fcgi%2Fpmidlookup%3Fview%3Dlong%26pmid%3D11007336&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-dailym-19"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation news">&quot;'Cat Box Disease' May Change Human Personality And Lower IQ&quot;. The Daily Telegraph. April 8, 2000.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=%27Cat+Box+Disease%27+May+Change+Human+Personality+And+Lower+IQ&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=April+8%2C+2000&amp;rft.pub=The+Daily+Telegraph&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-incrisk1-20">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>c</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Flegr J, Havl&iacute;ček J, Kodym P, Mal&yacute; M, &Scaron;mahel Z (2002). &quot;Increased risk of traffic accidents in subjects with latent toxoplasmosis: a retrospective case-control study&quot;. <em>BMC Infect Dis</em> <strong>2</strong>: 11. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1186/1471-2334-2-11</span>. PMID 12095427.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Increased+risk+of+traffic+accidents+in+subjects+with+latent+toxoplasmosis%3A+a+retrospective+case-control+study&amp;rft.jtitle=BMC+Infect+Dis&amp;rft.aulast=Flegr+J%2C+Havl%C3%AD%C4%8Dek+J%2C+Kodym+P%2C+Mal%C3%BD+M%2C+%C5%A0mahel+Z&amp;rft.au=Flegr+J%2C+Havl%C3%AD%C4%8Dek+J%2C+Kodym+P%2C+Mal%C3%BD+M%2C+%C5%A0mahel+Z&amp;rft.date=2002&amp;rft.volume=2&amp;rft.pages=11&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1186%2F1471-2334-2-11&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/12095427&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Zimmer1Aug2006-21">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>c</strong></em></sup> Carl Zimmer, The Loom. <em>A Nation of Neurotics? Blame the Puppet Masters?</em>, 1 Aug. 2006 </li>
<li id="cite_note-Flegr2007-22">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>c</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Jaroslav Flegr (January 2007). &quot;Effects of Toxoplasma on Human Behaviour&quot;. <em>Schizophrenia Bulletin</em> <strong>33</strong> (3): 757&ndash;760. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1093/schbul/sbl074</span>. PMID 17218612.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Effects+of+Toxoplasma+on+Human+Behaviour&amp;rft.jtitle=%5B%5BSchizophrenia+Bulletin%5D%5D&amp;rft.aulast=Jaroslav+Flegr&amp;rft.au=Jaroslav+Flegr&amp;rft.date=January+2007&amp;rft.volume=33&amp;rft.issue=3&amp;rft.pages=757%E2%80%93760&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1093%2Fschbul%2Fsbl074&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/17218612&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-incrisk4-23">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Yereli K, Balcioglu IC, Ozbilgin A. (December 2 2005). &quot;Is Toxoplasma gondii a potential risk for traffic accidents in Turkey?&quot;. <em>Forensic Sci Int</em>. PMID 16332418.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Is+Toxoplasma+gondii+a+potential+risk+for+traffic+accidents+in+Turkey%3F&amp;rft.jtitle=Forensic+Sci+Int&amp;rft.aulast=Yereli+K%2C+Balcioglu+IC%2C+Ozbilgin+A.&amp;rft.au=Yereli+K%2C+Balcioglu+IC%2C+Ozbilgin+A.&amp;rft.date=December+2+2005&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/16332418&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-24"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Flegr J, Klose J, Novotn&aacute; M, Berenreitterov&aacute; M, Havl&iacute;cek J (2009). &quot;Increased incidence of traffic accidents in Toxoplasma-infected military drivers and protective effect RhD molecule revealed by a large-scale prospective cohort study&quot;. <em>BMC Infect. Dis.</em> <strong>9</strong>: 72. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1186/1471-2334-9-72</span>. PMID 19470165. PMC 2692860<span class="printonly">. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/9/72</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Increased+incidence+of+traffic+accidents+in+Toxoplasma-infected+military+drivers+and+protective+effect+RhD+molecule+revealed+by+a+large-scale+prospective+cohort+study&amp;rft.jtitle=BMC+Infect.+Dis.&amp;rft.aulast=Flegr+J%2C+Klose+J%2C+Novotn%C3%A1+M%2C+Berenreitterov%C3%A1+M%2C+Havl%C3%ADcek+J&amp;rft.au=Flegr+J%2C+Klose+J%2C+Novotn%C3%A1+M%2C+Berenreitterov%C3%A1+M%2C+Havl%C3%ADcek+J&amp;rft.date=2009&amp;rft.volume=9&amp;rft.pages=72&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1186%2F1471-2334-9-72&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/19470165&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biomedcentral.com%2F1471-2334%2F9%2F72&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-guar1-25"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation news">&quot;Can a parasite carried by cats change your personality?&quot;. The Guardian. September 25, 2003<span class="printonly">. http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/thisweek/story/0,12977,1048642,00.html</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Can+a+parasite+carried+by+cats+change+your+personality%3F&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=September+25%2C+2003&amp;rft.pub=The+Guardian&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Flife%2Fthisweek%2Fstory%2F0%2C12977%2C1048642%2C00.html&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-bbcgilb-26"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation news">&quot;Dirt infection link to car crashes&quot;. BBC News. August 10, 2002<span class="printonly">. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2176548.stm</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Dirt+infection+link+to+car+crashes&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=August+10%2C+2002&amp;rft.pub=BBC+News&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F1%2Fhi%2Fhealth%2F2176548.stm&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-27"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Havl&iacute;cek J, Gasov&aacute; ZG, Smith AP, Zv&aacute;ra K, Flegr J (May 2001). &quot;Decrease of psychomotor performance in subjects with latent 'asymptomatic' toxoplasmosis&quot;. <em>Parasitology</em> <strong>122</strong> (Pt 5): 515&ndash;20. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1017/S0031182001007624</span>. PMID 11393824.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Decrease+of+psychomotor+performance+in+subjects+with+latent+%27asymptomatic%27+toxoplasmosis&amp;rft.jtitle=Parasitology&amp;rft.aulast=Havl%C3%ADcek+J%2C+Gasov%C3%A1+ZG%2C+Smith+AP%2C+Zv%C3%A1ra+K%2C+Flegr+J&amp;rft.au=Havl%C3%ADcek+J%2C+Gasov%C3%A1+ZG%2C+Smith+AP%2C+Zv%C3%A1ra+K%2C+Flegr+J&amp;rft.date=May+2001&amp;rft.volume=122&amp;rft.issue=Pt+5&amp;rft.pages=515%E2%80%9320&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1017%2FS0031182001007624&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/11393824&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-timescats-28">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation news">&quot;Dangerrrr: cats could alter your personality&quot;. Times Online. June 23, 2005<span class="printonly">. http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=99546</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Dangerrrr%3A+cats+could+alter+your+personality&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=June+23%2C+2005&amp;rft.pub=Times+Online&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.libertypost.org%2Fcgi-bin%2Freadart.cgi%3FArtNum%3D99546&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-guar2-29"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation news">&quot;Can a parasite carried by cats change your personality?&quot;. The Guardian. September 25, 2003<span class="printonly">. http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/thisweek/story/0,12977,1048642,00.html</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Can+a+parasite+carried+by+cats+change+your+personality%3F&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=September+25%2C+2003&amp;rft.pub=The+Guardian&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Flife%2Fthisweek%2Fstory%2F0%2C12977%2C1048642%2C00.html&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-bmc-30"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Novotn&aacute; M, Hanusova J, Klose J, Preiss M, Havlicek J, Roubalov&aacute; K, Flegr J (July 6 2004). &quot;Probable neuroimmunological link between Toxoplasma and cytomegalovirus infections and personality changes in the human host&quot;. <em>BMC Infect Dis</em> <strong>5</strong>: 54. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1186/1471-2334-5-54</span>. PMID 16000166.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Probable+neuroimmunological+link+between+Toxoplasma+and+cytomegalovirus+infections+and+personality+changes+in+the+human+host&amp;rft.jtitle=BMC+Infect+Dis&amp;rft.aulast=Novotn%C3%A1+M%2C+Hanusova+J%2C+Klose+J%2C+Preiss+M%2C+Havlicek+J%2C+Roubalov%C3%A1+K%2C+Flegr+J&amp;rft.au=Novotn%C3%A1+M%2C+Hanusova+J%2C+Klose+J%2C+Preiss+M%2C+Havlicek+J%2C+Roubalov%C3%A1+K%2C+Flegr+J&amp;rft.date=July+6+2004&amp;rft.volume=5&amp;rft.pages=54&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1186%2F1471-2334-5-54&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/16000166&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-SMH_Parasite_article-31"><strong>^</strong> AAP, SMH <em>Parasite makes men dumb, women sexy</em>, 26 Dec. 2006 </li>
<li id="cite_note-ABCNews-32">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation news">&quot;Cat Parasite Affects Everything We Feel and Do&quot;. ABC News. August 9, 2006<span class="printonly">. http://a.abcnews.com/Technology/DyeHard/Story?id=2288095</span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved 2009-05-06</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Cat+Parasite+Affects+Everything+We+Feel+and+Do&amp;rft.atitle=&amp;rft.date=August+9%2C+2006&amp;rft.pub=ABC+News&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fa.abcnews.com%2FTechnology%2FDyeHard%2FStory%3Fid%3D2288095&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Kevin_Lafferty_press_release-33"><strong>^</strong> Kevin Lafferty </li>
<li id="cite_note-pmid14725265-34">^ <sup><em><strong>a</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>b</strong></em></sup> <sup><em><strong>c</strong></em></sup> <span class="citation Journal">Torrey EF, Yolken RH (2003). &quot;Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia&quot;. <em>Emerging Infect. Dis.</em> <strong>9</strong> (11): 1375&ndash;80. PMID 14725265.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Toxoplasma+gondii+and+schizophrenia&amp;rft.jtitle=Emerging+Infect.+Dis.&amp;rft.aulast=Torrey+EF%2C+Yolken+RH&amp;rft.au=Torrey+EF%2C+Yolken+RH&amp;rft.date=2003&amp;rft.volume=9&amp;rft.issue=11&amp;rft.pages=1375%E2%80%9380&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/14725265&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span>free full text </li>
<li id="cite_note-Lafferty-35"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Lafferty, Kevin D. (2006). &quot;Can the common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, influence human culture?&quot;. <em>Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences</em> <strong>273</strong> (FirstCite Early Online Publishing): 2749. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1098/rspb.2006.3641</span>. ISSN 0962-8452 (Paper) 1471-2954 (Online). PMID 17015323<span class="printonly">. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1635495/</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Can+the+common+brain+parasite%2C+Toxoplasma+gondii%2C+influence+human+culture%3F&amp;rft.jtitle=Proceedings+of+the+Royal+Society+B%3A+Biological+Sciences&amp;rft.aulast=Lafferty&amp;rft.aufirst=Kevin+D.&amp;rft.au=Lafferty%2C%26%2332%3BKevin+D.&amp;rft.date=2006&amp;rft.volume=273&amp;rft.issue=FirstCite+Early+Online+Publishing&amp;rft.pages=2749&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1098%2Frspb.2006.3641&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/17015323&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpmc%2Farticles%2FPMC1635495%2F&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Wang_2006-36"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Wang H, Wang G, Li Q, Shu C, Jiang M, Guo Y (2006). &quot;Prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in first-episode schizophrenia and comparison between Toxoplasma-seropositive and Toxoplasma-seronegative schizophrenia&quot;. <em>Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica</em> <strong>114</strong> (1): 40&ndash;8. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00780.x</span>. PMID 16774660.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Prevalence+of+Toxoplasma+infection+in+first-episode+schizophrenia+and+comparison+between+Toxoplasma-seropositive+and+Toxoplasma-seronegative+schizophrenia&amp;rft.jtitle=%5B%5BActa+Psychiatrica+Scandinavica%5D%5D&amp;rft.aulast=Wang+H%2C+Wang+G%2C+Li+Q%2C+Shu+C%2C+Jiang+M%2C+Guo+Y&amp;rft.au=Wang+H%2C+Wang+G%2C+Li+Q%2C+Shu+C%2C+Jiang+M%2C+Guo+Y&amp;rft.date=2006&amp;rft.volume=114&amp;rft.issue=1&amp;rft.pages=40%E2%80%938&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1111%2Fj.1600-0447.2006.00780.x&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/16774660&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Jones_2001-37"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Jones JL, Kruszon-Moran D, Wilson M, McQuillan G, Navin T, McAuley JB (2001). &quot;<em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> infection in the United States: seroprevalence and risk factors&quot;. <em>Am J Epidemiol</em> <strong>154</strong> (4): 357&ndash;65. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1093/aje/154.4.357</span>. PMID 11495859.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=%27%27Toxoplasma+gondii%27%27+infection+in+the+United+States%3A+seroprevalence+and+risk+factors&amp;rft.jtitle=Am+J+Epidemiol&amp;rft.aulast=Jones+JL%2C+Kruszon-Moran+D%2C+Wilson+M%2C+McQuillan+G%2C+Navin+T%2C+McAuley+JB&amp;rft.au=Jones+JL%2C+Kruszon-Moran+D%2C+Wilson+M%2C+McQuillan+G%2C+Navin+T%2C+McAuley+JB&amp;rft.date=2001&amp;rft.volume=154&amp;rft.issue=4&amp;rft.pages=357%E2%80%9365&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1093%2Faje%2F154.4.357&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/11495859&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Jones_2004-38"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Jones J, Kruszon-Moran D, Wilson M (2003). &quot;Toxoplasma gondii infection in the United States, 1999-2000&quot;. <em>Emerg Infect Dis</em> <strong>9</strong> (11): 1371&ndash;4. PMID 14718078<span class="printonly">. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol9no11/03-0098.htm</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Toxoplasma+gondii+infection+in+the+United+States%2C+1999-2000&amp;rft.jtitle=Emerg+Infect+Dis&amp;rft.aulast=Jones+J%2C+Kruszon-Moran+D%2C+Wilson+M&amp;rft.au=Jones+J%2C+Kruszon-Moran+D%2C+Wilson+M&amp;rft.date=2003&amp;rft.volume=9&amp;rft.issue=11&amp;rft.pages=1371%E2%80%934&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/14718078&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fncidod%2FEID%2Fvol9no11%2F03-0098.htm&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-Tenter_2000-39"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Tenter AM, Heckeroth AR, Weiss LM (2000). &quot;<em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>: from animals to humans&quot;. <em>Int J Parasitol</em> <strong>30</strong>: 1217&ndash;58. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1016/S0020-7519(00)00124-7</span>. PMID 11113252.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=%27%27Toxoplasma+gondii%27%27%3A+from+animals+to+humans&amp;rft.jtitle=Int+J+Parasitol&amp;rft.aulast=Tenter+AM%2C+Heckeroth+AR%2C+Weiss+LM&amp;rft.au=Tenter+AM%2C+Heckeroth+AR%2C+Weiss+LM&amp;rft.date=2000&amp;rft.volume=30&amp;rft.pages=1217%E2%80%9358&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1016%2FS0020-7519%2800%2900124-7&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/11113252&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-40"><strong>^</strong> David Adam, Guardian Unlimited. <em>Can a parasite carried by cats change your personality?</em>, 25 Sep. 2003 </li>
<li id="cite_note-41"><strong>^</strong> Toxoplasmosis in the Netherlands by the Laboratory for Diagnoses for Infectious Diseases and Screening; RIVM Bilthoven </li>
<li id="cite_note-Conrad_2005-42"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation Journal">Conrad P, Miller M, Kreuder C, James E, Mazet J, Dabritz H, Jessup D, Gulland F, Grigg M (2005). &quot;Transmission of <em>Toxoplasma</em>: clues from the study of sea otters as sentinels of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> flow into the marine environment&quot;. <em>Int J Parasitol</em> <strong>35</strong> (11-12): 1155&ndash;68. doi:<span class="neverexpand">10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.07.002</span>. PMID 16157341.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.atitle=Transmission+of+%27%27Toxoplasma%27%27%3A+clues+from+the+study+of+sea+otters+as+sentinels+of+%27%27Toxoplasma+gondii%27%27+flow+into+the+marine+environment&amp;rft.jtitle=Int+J+Parasitol&amp;rft.aulast=Conrad+P%2C+Miller+M%2C+Kreuder+C%2C+James+E%2C+Mazet+J%2C+Dabritz+H%2C+Jessup+D%2C+Gulland+F%2C+Grigg+M&amp;rft.au=Conrad+P%2C+Miller+M%2C+Kreuder+C%2C+James+E%2C+Mazet+J%2C+Dabritz+H%2C+Jessup+D%2C+Gulland+F%2C+Grigg+M&amp;rft.date=2005&amp;rft.volume=35&amp;rft.issue=11-12&amp;rft.pages=1155%E2%80%9368&amp;rft_id=info:doi/10.1016%2Fj.ijpara.2005.07.002&amp;rft_id=info:pmid/16157341&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-npr1-43"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation web">&quot;17:30-22:00 Treating Disease in the Developing World.&quot;. <em>Talk of the Nation Science Friday</em>. National Public Radio. December 16, 2005<span class="printonly">. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5058325 17:30-22:00</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Treating+Disease+in+the+Developing+World.&amp;rft.atitle=Talk+of+the+Nation+Science+Friday&amp;rft.date=December+16%2C+2005&amp;rft.pub=National+Public+Radio&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Ftemplates%2Fstory%2Fstory.php%3FstoryId%3D5058325+17%3A30-22%3A00&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> </li>
<li id="cite_note-44"><strong>^</strong> Toxoplasma Serology Laboratory: Laboratory Tests For The Diagnosis Of Toxoplasmosis </li>
<li id="cite_note-45"><strong>^</strong> Arthur Ashe, Tennis Star, is Dead at 49 <em>New York Times</em> (02/08/93) </li>
<li id="cite_note-46"><strong>^</strong> BBC News | HEALTH | Pregnancy superfoods revealed </li>
<li id="cite_note-47"><strong>^</strong> [1] </li>
<li id="cite_note-48"><strong>^</strong> Sonja Matthee: Parasite of the month: <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>. November 16, 1998. </li>
<li id="cite_note-49"><strong>^</strong> <span class="citation web">&quot;Topic 33. Coccidia and Cryptosporidium spp.&quot;. <em>Biology 625: Animal Parasitology</em>. Kent State Parasitology Lab. October 24, 2005<span class="printonly">. http://www.k-state.edu/parasitology/classes/625protozoa33.html</span><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved 2006-10-14</span>.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.btitle=Topic+33.+Coccidia+and+Cryptosporidium+spp.&amp;rft.atitle=Biology+625%3A+Animal+Parasitology&amp;rft.date=October+24%2C+2005&amp;rft.pub=%5B%5BKent+State%5D%5D+Parasitology+Lab&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.k-state.edu%2Fparasitology%2Fclasses%2F625protozoa33.html&amp;rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Toxoplasmosis"><span style="DISPLAY: none">&nbsp;</span></span> Includes a list of famous victims. </li>
</ol>
</div>
<h2><span class="mw-headline" id="External_links">External links</span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Parts of this article are taken from the public domain <a class="external text" href="http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/" rel="nofollow">CDC factsheet: Toxoplasmosis</a> </li>
<li><em><a class="external text" href="http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch186/ch186h.html" rel="nofollow">Toxoplasmosis</a></em> at <a title="Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merck_Manual_of_Diagnosis_and_Therapy">Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy</a> Professional Edition </li>
<li>Health Protection Agency (HPA), UK: <a class="external text" href="http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&amp;HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733799638" rel="nofollow">Toxoplasmosis</a>. </li>
</ul>
</div>