Cat parasite reduces general anxiety in infected mice, not just fear of feline predators

(Cell Press) The cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause infected rodents to lose their fear of feline predators, which makes them easier to catch. Predators then spread the parasites through their feces. But this so-called fatal feline attraction theory is flawed, suggests a study publishing Jan. 14 in the journal Cell Reports. Rather than exhibiting a loss of feline-specific fear, infected rodents show decreases in general anxiety and aversion to a range of threats.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news