Parasite makes men dumb, women sexy

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 12/26/06

[Valin]

A common parasite can increase a women's attractiveness to the opposite sex but also make men more stupid, an Australian researcher says. About 40 per cent of the world's population is infected with Toxoplasma gondii, including about eight million Australians. Human infection generally occurs when people eat raw or undercooked meat that has cysts containing the parasite, or accidentally ingest some of the parasite's eggs excreted by an infected cat. The parasite is known to be dangerous to pregnant women as it can cause disability or abortion of the unborn child, and can also kill people whose immune systems are weakened.

Until recently it was thought to be an insignificant disease in healthy people, Sydney University of Technology infectious disease researcher Nicky Boulter said, but new research has revealed its mind-altering properties. "Interestingly, the effect of infection is different between men and women," Dr Boulter writes in the latest issue of Australasian Science magazine. "Infected men have lower IQs, achieve a lower level of education and have shorter attention spans. They are also more likely to break rules and take risks, be more independent, more anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose, and are deemed less attractive to women. "On the other hand, infected women tend to be more outgoing, friendly, more promiscuous, and are considered more attractive to men compared with non-infected controls. "In short, it can make men behave like alley cats and women behave like sex kittens".

Dr Boulter said the recent Czech Republic research was not conclusive, but was backed up by animal studies that found infection also changes the behaviour of mice. The mice were more likely to take risks that increased their chance of being eaten by cats, which would allow the parasite to continue its life cycle. Rodents treated with drugs that killed the parasites reversed their behaviour, Dr Boulter said.

Another study showed people who were infected but not showing symptoms were 2.7 times more likely than uninfected people to be involved in a car accident as a driver or pedestrian, while other research has linked the parasite to higher incidences of schizophrenia. "The increasing body of evidence connecting Toxoplasma infection with changes in personality and mental state, combined with the extremely high incidence of human infection in both developing and developed countries, warrants increased government funding and research, in particular to find safe and effective treatments or vaccines," Dr Boulter said.

[Valin]

i r gots no comments

[Michael Barnes]

u r gotz know serch

[Michael Barnes]

=)

[RockinRight]

Ah jess wanna see some bewbs...

[kerryusama04]

hmmmm, what was I gonna post again?

[Mears]

Hmmmmm !!!!!

[Ultra Sonic 007]

how do i post?

[BipolarBob]

I guess this means I need to lay off the cat turds in my diet, yes?

[Uncle Miltie]

Iz thishere parasamite avaleable fur my wief?

[Valin]

men dumb, women sexy...coincidence?

[D-fendr]

I think the parasite was previously called: Beer.

[Jagman]

stewped is what stewped does...

[glock rocks]

Nope. No ping here.

[loungitude]

Where can I get some? (for her..I dum enuf)

[redpoll]

In the famous words of Johnny Carson as he sat next to Zsa Zsa Gabor, who had a cat in her lap: "Mind if I stroke your pussy?"

[Rocky]

The girls always look better at closing time. Or if you've had some tainted meat.

[going hot]

ahhh, almond roca fudge, my favorite

[NicknamedBob]

At last!

An explanation for Mohammedanism.


And possibly a cure ...

[Thrownatbirth]

I'll start:

Nah. I'm outta this one.

[AJ504]

So THIS explains the lure of Democratic women... (Cindy Sheehan, Helen Thomas, etc.)

AKA the Double Bag Syndrome!

[mountn man]

You beat me to it.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Parasite makes men dumb

, women sexy

[MinorityRepublican]

Is this for real?

[CMS]

Strange ALCOHOL does the same thing

[canadianally]

We here at the Red State Clinic are working on a common parasite that can increase a man's attractiveness to the opposite sex but also make women more stupid.

I can't even begin to fathom the humor potential of this story.

[proud_yank]

or accidentally ingest some of the parasite's eggs excreted by an infected cat. The parasite is known to be dangerous to pregnant women as it can cause disability or abortion of the unborn child, and can also kill people whose immune systems are weakened

If we hear about any leftards recommending that pregnant women lick kitty kiester, we now know why.

[JRios1968]

All your Kevin Federline are belong to us.

[Valin]

I don't know. I'm too dumb to figure it out. :-)
Although it would make a graet pick up line "Hi, want some Toxoplasma gondii?"

[Valin]

OTOH That line might explain my great success with the fairer sex.

[Cacique]

Another reason to limit illegal immigration.

[Valin]

As a general rule I try to stay far far away from people that have anything to do with kitty kiesters. So far it's working out pretty good.

[Herford Turley]

i r too stupid too post.

Notice no author. I bet it were one of them there sexy women, trying to explain things to us idiot men.

[Herford Turley]

Another reason to limit illegal immigration.

Well said, Cacique.

[SC Swamp Fox]

I guess this means I need to lay off the cat turds in my diet, yes?

Infected men have lower IQs, achieve a lower level of education and have shorter attention spans. They are also more likely to break rules and take risks, be more independent, more anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose, and are deemed less attractive to women.

You're already bipolar, I say "Tuck in!"

[bannie]

Infected men have lower IQs, achieve a lower level of education and have shorter attention spans. They are also more likely to break rules and take risks, be more independent, more anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose, and are deemed less attractive to women. "On the other hand, infected women tend to be more outgoing, friendly, more promiscuous, and are considered more attractive to men compared with non-infected controls. "In short, it can make men behave like alley cats and women behave like sex kittens".

It also makes both sexes want to move to Hollywood and become adored by star-stricken idiots.

[proud_yank]

Yeah, I'd say its a good idea too!

[BlueNgold]

Is this Australian parasite also known as ... Foster's Lager?

[Frank_2001]

Ugh. This no good. This Bush fault.

[BipolarBob]

I'm gonna have another beer and sulk in the corner and contemplate the lint in my navel.

[zarf]

How bout sexy, dumb women?

That's hot....and disposable too!

[JudgemAll]

Wouldn't masturbation do the same? This parasite sounds like a wishful thinking metaphore.

[SAJ]

Bingo! Didn't know we needed any academic research on this point, but if you're a worthless academic, I suppose you MUST publish something.

Sheesh.

[FlyVet]

Toxoplasma gondii

They use that to make alcohol now?

[Rembrandt]

I think this parasite is one of the main ingredients in BEER.

[Thud]

My wife just asked why would anyone want to treat it?

[org.whodat]

common parasite

Always had that problem with ten year old wild turkey!!! Danced all night, or I thought I was dancing until someone stepped on my hand.

[TLI]

hmmmm, what was I gonna post again?

ar yew logged n?

[adorno]

That parasite must also explain a lot about what happens after praying mantiss(es?) have engaged in sex.

[Sundog]

If this picture does not look that nice you probably are not infected.

[Reverend Bob]

Sexy women = Stupid men.

This is news?