A common parasite spread by cats may increase the risk of developing brain cancer, scientists warned.
The parasite, called toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is usually transmitted to humans through contact with cat feces or by eating rare meat.
Most people who are infected with the parasite are unaware of this and have no serious symptoms.
However, new research indicates that T. gondii may increase the risk of developing glioma, an aggressive type of brain cancer.
The parasite, called toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is usually transmitted 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 connection between T. gondii antibodies and glioma – a type of tumor that occurs in the brain and spinal cord.
Glioma is relatively rare, with an estimated 300,000 incident cases in 2018.
However, it is a highly fatal cancer, with the majority (80 percent) of malignant tumors being gliomas.
Analysis of the study revealed that people with glioma are more likely to have antibodies against T. gondii (indicating they have had a previous infection) than a similar group without cancer.
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 findings suggest that individuals with greater 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 these findings need to be replicated in a larger and more diverse group of individuals.’
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that can infect most species of warm-blooded animals – including humans – and cause toxoplasmosis.
It is known only to reproduce sexually in cats.
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that can infect most species of warm-blooded animals – including humans – and cause toxoplasmosis.
Humans can be infected with the parasite T. gondii in several ways.
One of the most common ways that people get infected is by eating 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 box when the cat has released Toxoplasma in its feces, touching or ingesting anything that has come in contact with cat feces containing Toxoplasma, or accidentally ingesting contaminated soil. ‘
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which is usually transmitted to humans through cats
Most people who are infected with the parasite do not have symptoms or have flu-like symptoms.
However, in some cases, and particularly in people with weakened immune systems, the parasite can cause damage to the brain, eyes or other organs.
Meanwhile, a recent bizarre study also found that the parasite may be related to increased sexual arousal from fear and danger.
The research, published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology, was based on 36,564 people in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, some infected with toxoplasmosis and others free from the parasite.
‘Infected individuals are most often excited by their own fear, danger and sexual submission’, according to a study by researchers at Charles University in Prague.
The study says that people with toxoplasmosis are “more attracted to slavery, violence and, in men, masochism and rape”.