Mice no longer fear cats when infected with parasites

US scientists say mice can no longer fear cats if infected with a parasite.

The team of Wendy Ingram and colleagues at the University of California, Berkely, said that the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has the ability to curb rats' fears. After immunity to the parasite, the rat species will no longer react to the urine of this lynx.

Rats will no longer fear cats when infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.(Photo: BBC)

Cats often mark their territory with urine, while mice often rely on this track to avoid areas where cats may appear. Toxoplasma gondii infected mice do not like cats' urine, while infected animals can walk around the test area normally.

"It is noteworthy that even after the infection has ended on a large scale or is completely immune, changes in the behavior of mice continue , " the BBC quoted Ingram as saying. "This temporary infection in addition to creating a complete change in the field of parasitic biology can mean a lot to infectious medicine."

Rodents can become infected by eating cat feces. This parasite species then activates itself in the internal organs of the body, especially in the brain, where it develops into cysts.

People can also become infected with this parasite. Recent estimates suggest that about 350,000 people infected with Toxoplasmosis each year, causing serious complications during women's pregnancy and adversely affecting those with weakened immune systems.

Ingram said the experiment could be of great significance to people, especially patients with schizophrenia.