New findings published in Folia Parasitologica challenge the Toxoplasma conventional understanding of certain latent infections, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia spp., suggesting a direct link to personality traits independent of overall health decline. This contradicts the prevailing belief that behavioral changes observed in infected individuals are secondary to compromised health.
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Toxoplasma
Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia spp. are microorganisms known for their multifaceted impacts on human health. Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite, typically transmitted through undercooked meat, contaminated water, or contact with cat feces, often remains asymptomatic or causes mild flu-like symptoms in healthy adults. Conversely, Borrelia spp. bacteria, responsible for Lyme disease via tick bites, can lead to flu-like symptoms and neurological complications if untreated.
Past research has associated Toxoplasma gondii with psychiatric disorders and altered behavior, including increased aggression. Similarly, Borrelia infections may affect cognitive functions and mental health long after the acute phase.
Led by Professor Jaroslav Flegr of Charles University in Prague, a new study aimed to discern whether the observed behavioral changes from these infections are direct effects or consequences of health decline.
Analyzing data from over 7,700 participants via an online survey, researchers evaluated cognitive and personality traits using various psychometric tests. Results revealed that Toxoplasma-positive individuals reported more health issues, consistent with prior findings. Borrelia-positive participants also reported poorer physical health, albeit with lesser impact on mental health compared to Toxoplasma.
Both infections correlated with changes in personality traits, including decreased conscientiousness and alterations in the Dark Triad traits. Toxoplasma-positive individuals exhibited lower scores in Machiavellianism, with women scoring lower in narcissism. Moreover, infected individuals showed modified responses to pathogen and injury disgust scenarios, indicating altered disgust sensitivity.
Interestingly, infections were associated with cognitive function differences, as evidenced by performance on the Stroop test. Toxoplasma-infected individuals displayed slower reaction times and reduced precision, suggesting a direct influence on cognitive processing.
Crucially, these behavioral changes were not mediated by overall health status, challenging the notion that infection-induced behavioral effects are solely a byproduct of health decline.
These findings underscore the complexity of latent infections’ impacts on behavior and cognition, shedding light on potential direct effects beyond health deterioration.
