The Influence of the Toxoplasma Gondii on the Behavior of Grey Wolfes and Infected Hyenas
Even if wolves are sick, they’re not likely to end up as lunch for the cats due to their killer reputation. He speculates that in the past, infected wolves could have been more likely to be preyed on by American lions (Panthera atrox), massive feline predators weighing around 200 kilograms, which prowled North America until they went extinct over 11,000 years ago.
The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, makes its hosts bold — a mechanism that increases its survival. To reproduce sexually, T. gondii must reach the body of a cat, usually when its host is eaten by one. If the Hosts are changed by the parasites, that becomes much more likely. Infections in rodents can have a correlation with decreased fear of felines and increased exploratory behavior. testosterone and dopamine production have been found to be increased in people.
Warm-blooded mammals can catch the parasite by eating an infected animal or ingesting forms of T. gondii shed in the faeces of infected cats. After a period of acute infection, semi-dormant cysts form in muscle and brain tissue, and persist for the rest of the host’s life. It is believed that up to one-third of humans are chronically infectious.
Some animals are known to be infectious with the Toxoplasma gondii, but few studies have examined its behavioral effects. In one work, infected hyenas in Kenya became more likely to be eaten by lions2. There is an opportunity to link the occurrence of grey wolves in Wyoming with their infections in Montana, as shown by the data collected over the course of 27 years. Some wolves in the park are known to steal prey from other wolves, such as Puma concolor, which carry a parasites. Wolves could become infected by eating the cats — or their faeces.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03836-9
The discovery of a rare strain of marine parasites in an otter does not suggest that animals are necessarily exposed to Toxoplasma gondii
Meyer says they got that result and stared at each other. This is larger than we thought it would be. Today’s work in the journal Communications Biology has been published.
The moral of Meyer’s story is that parasites can be a major player in an environment. “Parasites might have a much larger role than anyone generally gives them credit for,” he says.
The researchers called the finding a complete surprise since this strain of T. gondii has never been found in an aquatic animal or coastal California. Their study, led by researchers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and University of California, Davis, was published this week in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.
crustaceans, such as crabs, clams, and mussels, that share the same environment or food resources could be at risk of being exposed to the disease Toxoplasma gondii.
The sea otter were stranded for a long period of time, with each having an unusual and severe inflammation of body fat. The strain of T. gondii that killed adult otter was able to rapidly kill other otter species, according to the researchers.
Most people don’t know they have toxoplasmosis, but it can cause serious damage to the brain, eyes and other organs. It can be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy and can lead to significant health problems after birth. People with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for severe infections while infants born to mothers who were previously infectious are at lower risk.
To prevent any toxoplasmosis infection, the CDC recommends typical food safety practices such as cooking foods to a high internal temperature, rinsing fruits and vegetables and washing utensils.
The CDC advises people to keep their pet cats inside and change the litter box every day in order to stop the transmission of the parasites from cat feces to humans.
In the study, the researchers said more work is needed to investigate habitat or climate change factors that may have led to the spread of the rare strain in otters, and to examine whether other aquatic wildlife are infected.