In this podcast episode, the hosts delve into a fascinating paper published in Nature Communications about Toxoplasma gondii, a single-cell parasite that can alter the behavior of its hosts. The study focused on cougars and wolves in Yellowstone National Park, where their territories overlap, allowing for the spillover of the pathogen. The hosts discuss the importance of Toxoplasma gondii, which can infect warm-blooded animals, including pets, livestock, and birds, and is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans. They also highlight that the direct host is a feline, and everything else is an intermediate host.

The hosts discuss how the parasite can affect behavior, making prey animals bolder and more prone to doing risky things, which puts them at risk around wild cat predators. They compare this subversive style to rabies, where herbivores become more docile when they infect, making them easier prey for predators. The hosts point out that Toxoplasma gondii infects around two billion people in the world, with a high prevalence in the population, but most people deal with the infection without developing any clinical symptoms or disease.

The episode is a fascinating deep dive into the science of Toxoplasma gondii, with insights into its behavior-altering effects and the dangers it can pose to both animals and humans. The hosts also touch on the clinical aspects of the parasite, highlighting the guidelines for screening and treatment in immunocompromised individuals. Overall, it is an engaging and informative episode that will appeal to anyone interested in microbiology, parasitology, and infectious diseases.

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