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The "off switch" is a protein within the parasite that they turned off with genetic modifications. They didn't actually find a treatment that could be used on wild parasites.
> Gaji and his team might have found a lead, though: in a new study, they have shown that switching off just a single protein inside the microscopic parasite can kill it.
> The protein, TgAP2X-7, appears to be essential to the parasite's ability to invade a host, form plaques, and self-replicate. To prove this, the team genetically modified some parasites so that their TgAP2X-7 proteins function normally unless auxin (a plant hormone that regulates growth) is added, in which case the proteins would quickly degrade.
So it could be helpful research for something, but there are a lot of proteins within parasites that are necessary for growth and survival. Turning any number of proteins off could end the parasite's ability to do something, but that's not helpful unless you also have a mechanism to induce that change without harming the host.
Toxoplasma Gondii is noted for causing behavioral differences in infected hosts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#Behavioral_d...
And see here :)
after reading the whole wiki on that thing.... kind of terrifying...
was thinking of getting a cat but maybe not anymore...
Just keep your cat indoors.
FWIW the health impacts of a rodent infestation are probably worse than the cat parasite thing. Best defense against mice/rats is a feline friend.
> Just keep your cat indoors.
Maybe if you have a big house, but I keep seeing people keep cats or dogs in small houses or even apartments and it feels so sad, it's a kind of animal abuse. If you can't give your pet a good life you should not get a pet.
What if it’s a small apartment, but the life is a significant albeit marginal improvement over life in a shelter? Would it make a difference if it were a shelter where animals are killed after a certain period without being adopted?
Please note that I’m on purpose phrasing this to be a bit contrarian. Not trying to rattle any cages (no pun intended), just found myself initially agreeing with you and then not being sure anymore.
I grew up with many cats, all outdoor. I have since known many cats that are kept indoor only. The indoor pets lead happier, less stressful lives. We tend to forget that it is a jungle out there, and even domestic animals have territorial fights and pecking orders. Indoor only cats live comparatively peaceful and stress free lives.
Zoo keepers sometimes experiment with giving their tigers or other big cats larger enclosures, but that can increase their stress because now they have a bigger territory to patrol.
If you're in the new world (the Americas) house cats are an invasive species that, when let to roam outside, harm the native small animal population. Cats shouldn't be left outside to roam free in this situation.
Small animals that carry lethal diseases.
Best defense against rats and mice is a ferret friend. Their odor is far more effective at deterring rodents than felines are.
Unfortunately illegal to own where I live :(
Toxoplasma Gondii.
Damn clickbait… it took title, 5 paragraphs, and an ad break before they even mentioned what the parasite is.
They did tests on human foreskin…
I have some questions about the goals…
Click bait title.