The pill that could cure you of motorcycling

[scissorhands]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Ne...-motorcycling/

By Guy Procter -

General news

08 June 2010 15:04

You better hope nobody from the EU reads this, but there's a pill that some experts think could 'cure' you of motorcycling.

The new drug ­called co-trimoxazole­ has been proven ten times more effective than previous remedies against the condition Toxoplasmosis ­a bacterial infection Dr Robert Sapolsky of Stanford University says is unusually common in motorcyclists, and which he believes could have contributed to our desire to ride the things in the first place.

Toxoplasma is a parasite scientists have recently observed makes infected rats appear to want to get closer to their chief predator, cats. Infected rodents become sexually attracted to cat urine, and take uncharacteristic risks in the presence of their feline nemesis. The behaviour change is believed to be driven by the infection's desire to be passed up the foodchain.

Dr Sapolsky goes on to say that motorcyclists have a high probability of being infected with Toxoplasmosis, and that infected people are "three to four times more likely to be killed in car accidents involving reckless speeding" ­suggesting the condition is key to our appetite for speed and risk.

Sapolsky says: "What is the bottom line on this? Well, it depends; if you want to overcome some of your inhibitions, Toxo might be a very good thing to have in your system.

"You want to know something utterly terrifying? The U.S. Military is interested in Toxo. And I would think they would be intrigued, studying a parasite that makes mammals perhaps do things that everything in their fiber normally tells them not to because it's dangerous and ridiculous and stupid and don't do it."

Worldwide Toxoplasmosis, ­which is picked up from cat or rodent faeces and generally goes untreated, is one of humanity's most prevalent infections, but the variances are interesting.

For example, Britain has a Toxoplasma infection rate of 6.6% while in bike-loving France it's 45%. Road deaths are also 68% higher in France than in the UK.

[bogan]

so just to clarify, a toxin produced by rats, is then given to rats in large doses and it makes them behave differently. If they produce it isn't that what its supposed to do? Have they done studies on how it actually affects us?

[scissorhands]

Toxoplasmosis makes women submissive, turns men into reckless jerks, and apparently exists in a disproportionate number of motorcycle wreck victims.

Its from cats, not rats.

[bogan]

It makes women submissive, turns men into reckless jerks, and apparently exists in a disproportionate number of motorcycle wreck victims.

kinda like P then?

[scissorhands]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.[1] The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans, but the primary host is the felid (cat) family. Animals are infected by eating infected meat, by ingestion of feces of a cat that has itself recently been infected, or by transmission from mother to fetus. Although cats are often blamed for spreading toxoplasmosis, contact with raw meat is a more significant source of human infections in many countries, and fecal contamination of hands is a greater risk factor.[2]

Up to one third of the world's human population is estimated to carry a Toxoplasma infection.[3] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that overall seroprevalence in the United States as determined with specimens collected by the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2004 was found to be 10.8%, with seroprevalence among women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years) 11%.[4]

During the first few weeks post-exposure, the infection typically causes a mild flu-like illness or no illness. Thereafter, the parasite rarely causes any symptoms in otherwise healthy adults. However, those with a weakened immune system, such as AIDS patients or pregnant women, may become seriously ill, and it can occasionally be fatal. The parasite can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and neurologic diseases, and can affect the heart, liver, inner ears, and eyes (chorioretinitis).

[scissorhands]

Could Toxoplasma gondii help your country win the World Cup?

Xeni Jardin at 5:12 PM Friday, Jul 2, 2010

An interesting Slate piece points out a correlation between rates of infection by "cat poop protozoa"—that's Toxoplasma gondii— and success rates in soccer:

If we set aside the qualifying rounds (in which teams can play to a draw) and focus on matches with a clear winner, the results are very compelling. In the knockout round of this year's tournament, eight out of eight winners so far have been the teams whose countries had higher rates of Toxo infection. If we go back to the 2006 World Cup, seven out of eight knockout-round winners could be predicted by higher Toxo rates. The one exception to the rule was Brazil's defeat of Ghana, a match between two nations that each have very high rates. (Aside from having the winningest team in World Cup history, Brazil has quite a few cases of Toxo: Two out of three Brazilians are infected.)

It gets better. Rank the top 25 FIFA team countries by Toxo rate and you get, in order from the top: Brazil (67 percent), Argentina (52 percent), France (45 percent), Spain (44 percent), and Germany (43 percent). Collectively, these are the teams responsible for eight of the last 10 World Cup overall winners. Spain, the only one of the group never to have won a cup, is no subpar outlier--the Spaniards have the most World Cup victories of any perpetual runner-up.

[slofox]

I've been around cats all my life and have tested positive to toxo infection before today.

But I'm reeeeeally careful on my bike, honest, an' never go over the speed limit...much...

[scissorhands]

I've been around cats all my life and have tested positive to toxo infection before today.

But I'm reeeeeally careful on my bike, honest, an' never go over the speed limit...much...

Me too.

Toxoplasmosis Parasite May Trigger Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorders

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0311085151.htm


The team from the University of Leeds’ Faculty of Biological Sciences has shown that the parasite may play a role in the development of these disorders by affecting the production of dopamine -- the chemical that relays messages in the brain controlling aspects of movement, cognition and behaviour.

Toxoplasmosis, which is transmitted via cat faeces (found on unwashed vegetables) and raw or undercooked infected meat, is relatively common, with 10-20% of the UK population and 22% of the US population estimated to carry the parasite as cysts. Most people with the parasite are healthy, but for those who are immune-suppressed -- and particularly for pregnant women -- there are significant health risks that can occasionally be fatal.

Dr Glenn McConkey, lead researcher on the project, says: “Toxoplasmosis changes some of the chemical messages in the brain, and these changes can have an enormous effect on behaviour. Studies have shown there is a direct statistical link between incidences of schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis infection and our study is the first step in discovering why there is this link.”

The parasite infects the brain by forming a cyst within its cells and produces an enzyme called tyrosine hydroxylase, which is needed to make dopamine. Dopamine’s role in mood, sociability, attention, motivation and sleep patterns are well documented and schizophrenia has long been associated with dopamine, which is the target of all schizophrenia drugs on the market.

The team has recently received $250,000 (£160,000) to progress its research from the US-based Stanley Medical Research Institute, which focuses on mental health conditions and has a particular emphasis on bipolar illnesses.

Dr McConkey says: “It’s highly unlikely that we will find one definitive trigger for schizophrenia as there are many factors involved, but our studies will provide a clue to how toxoplasmosis infection - which is more common than you might think – can impact on the development of the condition in some individuals.

“In addition, the ability of the parasite to make dopamine implies a potential link with other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, Tourette’s syndrome and attention deficit disorders, says Dr McConkey. “We’d like to extend our research to look at this possibility more closely.”

[ducatilover]

How interesting. I've never had a cat (Had a few pussies though ) and I am more or less obsessed with bikes...

[slofox]

such as Parkinson’s Disease, Tourette’s syndrome and attention deficit disorders,

Tourette's too huh?

I was a classic Tourette's as a child - all the symptoms and then some. Manage normally enough these days although some traces remain..like the fact that I fuckingcuntingwellbastard SWEAR a lot...

[ducatilover]

Tourette's too huh?

I was a classic Tourette's as a child - all the symptoms and then some. Manage normally enough these days although some traces remain..like the fact that I fuckingcuntingwellbastard SWEAR a lot...

I owrked with a few people with varying effects of tourette's. Never a dull moment to be honest

[slofox]

I owrked with a few people with varying effects of tourette's. Never a dull moment to be honest

I was a doozy as a kid.

[munster]

Toxoplasmosis makes women submissive

Where can I score some for the wife?

[ducatilover]

Where can I score some for the wife?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flunitrazepam
Solved

[Banditbandit]

Sheesh .. guess I don't need a doctor to tell me I'm infected ... but bugger the cure .. I like who I am ... symptoms of Tourettes, ADHD and ride bikes and all ...

I don't want to be cured .. the disease is fuck'n fun ...