how come ‘zombie’ parasites are able to infect species like snails but not humans?
In: Biology
There is some evidence that a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that infects humans from cats also causes changes in behavior in humans infected. In animals, it reduces the fear of the scent of predators and of going out into open spaces, making them subject to higher predation. In humans:
“The authors reported a correlation between *Toxoplasma* and two personalities: lower scores of low superego strength (disregards rules, expedient) and higher scores of Protension (suspecting, jealous, dogmatic). This finding was particularly seen in males [[22](https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84000#B22)]. The authors further expanded their study by looking at 224 men and 170 women. In men, they noted similar personality shifts as the prior study, though in addition guilt proneness (apprehensive, self-reproaching, insecure) and group dependency (sociably group dependent, “joiner”) were also positively influenced in *Toxoplasma*-infected men. In women, shifts in personality traits include an increase in affectothymia (warm-hearted, outgoing, easygoing), alaxia (trusting, accepting conditions, tolerant), untroubled adequacy (self-assured, placid, secure, complacent), and self-sufficiency (self-sufficient, resourceful, prefers own decisions).
[https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84000#](https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/84000#)
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