University of Nebraska Omaha professor and students have been studying the potential behavioral change of cats due to a parasite that lives and reproduces in them.
The research project called, Toxo Project, aims to develop a deeper understanding of how the parasite Toxoplasma gondii affects cats. It also looks to better educate cat owners on the minimal risks of owning a cat that is infected and hopefully reduces the stray cat population.
Toxo is a parasite that can infect most warm-blooded animals, including humans, but can only reproduce in cats. Graduate student, Mohammad Alyetama, is the brainchild behind this project and is relying on the help of the community and their pet cats to help understand the parasite.
Mohammad said, “We have evidence of the parasite in cats brains but no one has looked if the parasite similarly affects the behavior of the cat.”
Animals infected with the parasite, especially those in the rodent family, are known to show less of a fear response and more impulse behavior. This behavior even extends to humans. Rats and mice, however, have even been shown to become sexually attracted to the scent of a cat making them easy prey for the cat and fast tracks the parasite getting into the cat’s digestive tract.
Once the parasite reaches the digestive tract, it can reproduce sexually and released in the stool of the cat where it can live in the dirt until contracted by another animal. Mohammad said they hypothesis the parasite may be having subtle effects on cats to move through larger spaces and into other territories so that the parasite can spread further.
They do not infect cats with the parasite as they believe this could alter the behavior of a cat which could throw off their results. According to their website toxoproject.com, over 190 cats have already been studied and those who are interested in the research can go there and participate in the study.
Currently, a blood test is required to check to see if a cat is infected as antibodies will be present as the immune system attempts to fight it said, Mohammad.
Animals can be infected by eating raw meat of an infected animal, oysters if the water is infected or from eating unwashed fruits and vegetables as the parasite can live in soil said Bruce Chase, who has a doctorate in philosophy, genetics, neuroscience, manages the project.
Chase said, “If you are infected as an adult you have an immune response to keep it in check.”
While in most cases the parasite is basically harmless, Toxo can be deadly under the right circumstances. Chase said, if your immune system is compromised or not fully developed, whether it be human or cat, It could lead to issues with the viability and health of a fetus and destruction of brain cells.
This does not mean cat owners need to get rid of their pet during pregnancy. In fact, having a cat that was previously exposed to the parasite may be beneficial.
“If the cat has been exposed to the parasite, the cat has an immune response to that parasite. It’s like getting the flu, you can’t get it again, at least that strain. It depends if the cat is still sheading parasites,” said Chase.
In the next phase of their research, they plan on affixing GPS locators to the collars of indoor-outdoor cats and monitoring their activity. They have already completed the testing phase and are expecting to receive 20 new trackers and begin giving them out in the next month or two.
More cats will be needed for this next phase of their research and are hopeful the community of Omaha will help them in their research.
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