A common parasite spread by cats can increase the risk of developing brain cancer, scientists have warned.
The parasite, called toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), usually spreads to humans through contact with cat feces or eating undercooked meat.
Most people who become infected with the parasite are unaware of it and will not experience any major symptoms.
However, new research indicates that T. gondii could increase the risk of developing glioma, an aggressive type of brain cancer.
The parasite, called toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), usually spreads to humans through contact with cat feces, or can be acquired from undercooked meat.
In the study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, researchers at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta examined the link between antibodies to T. gondii and glioma, a type of tumor that occurs in the brain and spinal cord.
Gliomas are relatively rare, with approximately 300,000 cases of incidents in 2018.
However, it is a very deadly cancer, with most (80%) malignant tumors being gliomas.
Analysis of the study revealed that people with glioma are more likely to have antibodies to T. gondii (indicating they have had a previous infection) than a similar cancer-free group.
According to the researchers, this suggests that exposure to the parasite may increase the risk of aggressive brain tumors.
Dr Anna Coghill, an assistant professor at the Moffitt Cancer Center and co-author of the study, said: “The results suggest that people with higher exposure to the T. gondii parasite are more likely to develop glioma.
“However, it should be noted that the absolute risk of being diagnosed with a glioma remains low, and that these findings should be replicated in a larger and more diverse group of individuals.”
Toxoplasma gondii is a unicellular parasite that can infect most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and cause toxoplasmosis disease.
It is only known to reproduce sexually in cats.
Toxoplasma gondii is a unicellular parasite that can infect most species of warm-blooded animals, including humans, and cause toxoplasmosis disease.
Humans can be infected with the T. gondii parasite in several ways.
One of the most common ways to become infected is to eat undercooked or contaminated meat.
However, the parasite can also be transmitted to humans through contact with cat feces.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explained, “This can happen by cleaning a cat’s litter when the cat has thrown Toxoplasma in the feces, touches or ingests anything that has come in contact with feces containing Toxoplasma or accidentally ingesting contaminated soil. ”
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a common brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which usually passes to humans through cats.
Most people infected with the parasite will not have flu-like symptoms or basic symptoms.
However, in some cases, and particularly in people with a weakened immune system, the parasite can cause damage to the brain, eyes, or other organs.
Meanwhile, a strange recent study also found that the parasite may be related to increased sexual arousal out of fear and danger.
The research, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology, was based on 36,564 people in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, some of whom were infected with toxoplasmosis and some without parasites.
“Infected subjects are most often aroused by their own fear, danger, and sexual submission,” according to the study by researchers at Charles University in Prague.
The study says people with toxoplasmosis have a “greater attraction to bondage, violence and, in men, to masochism and rape.”