Toxoplasmosis gandii: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and cancer

Toxoplasmosis gandii is a single celled parasitic protozoan which is an obligate intracellular parasite. It can infect warmblood animals. Felids are their primary host which allow them to sexually reproduce. It’s the most common parasite in countries which are still developing. This means that 30-50% of people throughout the world are infected, many of them chronically. In fact, 84% of the people in France are infected with this parasite. It has been shown that it has an effect on the brains of rats, and now they find it may affect humans as schizophrenia. It may affect humans in similar ways it affects rats. It goes through several life cycles:  Tachyzoites (multiply in a host), merozoites (multiply in a felid for sexual reproduction), bradyzoites (slow division into cysts) and sporozoites (within occysts). Exposure to felids, felid waste, felid waste in food, substrate, contaminated soil and more may get an animal sick, and a human as well!

By far my interest in is Toxoplasmosis gandii. This is primarily because I grew up with cats and despite the fact that most people do not test for this it  could be in a large population. It can be spread in contaminated food/meat, contaminated water, contaminated soil and it can be spread in feces. It operates in an interesting way and its effects are fascinating if not a little horrifying. Despite its effects on humans, many people don’t know about it. It is interesting that the younger/teenage group is what showed evidence of schizophrenia correlating with toxoplasmosis gandii antibodies being currently present and being around cats, and it had a lower appearance among adults in a 30 study review. In that same study though, half of the people showed a correlation to the parasite antibodies and to the current presence of cats.

I found the time of exposure to be of particular interest. Such as seeing the effects of congenital infection of the Zika Virus to be an indication of the effects of viruses and other pathogens on unborn children. Would this early exposure time, such as while still in the mother have an effect like this? We know that toxoplasmosis gandii can cause problems in pregnancies, in addition, its effects on post birth conditions and some other early conditions are documented in many kinds of animals. Scizophrenia is interesting, in that for some it may show up in someones 20’s, is  this an indication of infective age? Does this imply that some effects from a disease may take a certain amount of time for the parasite’s effects to show in a host, or is it only then that it manifests and it  could have been present in a host?

Learning that feral and neighborhood domestic cats use public sandboxes to defecate in may spread the disease. Worse of all, will it deliver the disease at a time which will effect children at a vitally developmental age for the brain. As we learn that the first five years are integral to brain development, does this give an indication of when some early brain issues could begin due to exposure? Surely this is supported by some of the potential findings. This is that early childhood exposure to cats is more likely to be a problem than adult ownership of cats. Are their early signs? I have several friends who are schizophrenic, and I know they all have early exposure to cats. Of course, cats are a common pet. Most people do not have them tested to see if they have toxoplasmosis gandii.

According to E. Fuller Torrey, Cats carring the parasite may risk infecting people with this parasite which he believes may be responsible for some cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Although they have a lifetime approved live vaccine for sheep called Toxovax (MSD Animal Health), there is no human vaccine. We countinue to see what effects it has, and it has been documented as giving issues to young children. IT can be passed congenitally, and has been well documented in sheep and rodents. The parasite was found in a cesarean section infant girl showing with seizures and  lesions. There are 17 known species of felids which can spread oocytes and they are the only creatures that can spread this way. According to some behavioral studies, it is found that it affects men and women differently when measured with the Cattell’s Personality Factor Questionnaire. In people who are immunocompromised, they may be vulnerable to Toxoplasmosis Gandii. In addition, if they become ill, it may reactivate tissue cysts, re-releasing the parasite once held at bay by a stronger immune system. As the immune system declines, the parasite reproduces and puts the individual at more risk. Or could it be the other way around?

There are some interesting correlations between brain cancer rates and toxoplasmosis gandii. In fact, the countries that are highest in toxoplasmosis gandii, are also highest in brain cancer rates, at 1.8 times more likely in the 37 countries studied, according to Discover magazine. This may be due to sanitization techniques, other illnesses, natural reproduction of pathogens, distribution of pathogens and vectors, the medical services available to people, as well as the technology available. Although this tells us there may be a correlation, we may not know what that is yet. However, since the parasite is known to affect the brain, it is something to consider.

Since the parasite prevents the cells from killing each other, and it also creates mild inflammation these are both hallmarks of cancer. This means it is potentially involved in the development for brain cancers. The parasite lives a long time in the brain, and it takes a long time for brain tumors to develop. American researchers found the most common glioma brain cancer, astrocytoma is very likely to have the parasite. This is contraindicative of Australian findings where they found the brain parasite meningioma is likely to have a link to the parasite.

Could it be subgroups of the parasite which are more likely to cause certain cancers depending on the parasite strain? Could certain parasites be prevalent in some regions rather than others? There are many infections known to cause cancer…is this another one? The EBV virus causes lymphomas, and HPV and Epstien Barr are also known to cause cancer. The problem with finding this correlation, is that it is expensive and difficult to prove with some information countering findings. Additionally there are about 120 types of brain cancers. There’s nothing yet to support these findings though, and they haven’t had much study.

For the most part, people who own cats are not more likely to have brain cancer. It comes from sources other than cats however, which makes the parasite difficult to trace. In fact, some studies show it may influence the destruction of some cancer. It stimulates cytotoxic T cells, used by the body to fight cancer (is that a sign on its own). This helps the body fight other cancers. CPS a Mutant version developed to fight cancer has promising results in animal trials and it cannot reproduce on its own.

“Avoiding Childhood Exposure to Cats with the the T. Gondi parasite may reduce schizophrenia risk” schizophrenia.com http://www.schizophrenia.com/prevention/cats.html

Pet Theory. Do Cats Cause Schizophrenia? by Stephen Mihm. The New York Times Magazine on the Web. http://www.schizophrenia.com/research/schizovirus.htm

Toxoplasmosis Gandii. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii

A Report of Two Cases of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in Leukemia Patients. http://jjmicrobiol.com/8906.fulltext

Is the parasite Toxoplasma gondii linked to brain cancer?
By Ed Yong | July 26, 2011
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/07/26/is-the-parasite-toxoplasma-gondii-linked-to-brain-cancer/#.Vt5HjvkrJD8

Good News: Your Cat Won't Give You Brain Cancer. Live Science.
by Stephanie Pappas, Live Science Contributor   |   August 21, 2012 07:01pm ET

Could cat feces help cure cancer? Written by Honor Whiteman. Published: Sunday 20 July 2014. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279776.php

Caregiving Services in the Business Place

Caregiving responsibilities are not just for those with children, but also those who need to help with an elder. People who have to help with both, are called the “sandwich generation” and often have to juggle work, parents and children. These needs stress the employee, and may lead to a variety of results such as increased absenteeism, health problems, substance abuse, stress, strain, less productivity and issues with job satisfaction. When an employer shows care and commitment to an employee’s personal life, it increases employee retention. Since it increases moral, lowers stress and increases productivity and work quality, it helps the company excel against competitors. When employees have to modify their work schedule or quality due to their other responsibilities, it causes hidden costs.

Many companies explore options to help allay these costs. Some companies provide flex time, child care support or elder care support. Some companies have job sharing agreements between employees. If this is done, there should be a division of work and goals must be measurable and set. Many employers do have cross-trained employees. Some have compressed work weeks. They may have a variety of options of leave (sick, family, personal and vacation). Sometimes, this is through telecommuting (not always an option in the veterinary services) or relocation policies if necessary.

Some companies provide benefits, such as flexible plans, tax benefits, insurance or employee assistance support. Some companies provide services such as education on caregiving, community involvement, resources on caregiving as well as some direct services (such as on-site care centers, adult day centers, subsidiaries, vouchers, discounts for care, respite, sick/emergency care, after school programs and concierge services). Employees should be trained to be family friendly and supportive. organization policy should be set and managers should be trained to be family friendly.

Understanding Staff

For Theory in a Business class we were asked to envision ourselves as supervisors and what would we do to learn more of employees...

I would begin by learning the names and details of the people I will be working with. I would make a detailed list of who I am working with, organize it into a structure and list information such as name, job position, specialized training and more. I have often studied what I can on a website regarding any employer or coworker before I begin working. this gives me a good, firm ground to understand what each of the employees can bring to the table. 

Knowing more about your own supervisors and what they do to contribute to the team is important. Learning everything is important. Learn how the management works, learn who to talk to about particular subjects and more. Learn about the company and any classes you can take. Understand and read the human resources information and keep it handy. Review personnel files, read resumes, reviews and gain an understanding of their goals. It is good to work out arrangements with a mentor to guide you through any issues that may arise. Since your new focus is getting others to succeed and the job is no longer focused just on you, you have to provide the tools for them to excel. This point should be about education.

Take the time to learn about others and find out what their goals are. You need to see what they need more training in order to excel. You have to ask them questions to find out where they want to go in their job. You need to ensure they will perform very well which will help you out in the long run. You must let them know that you are open to their opinions. They need to know you will listen. You should either have an open door policy or outline your office hours that they can meet with you. Find out what they like about their work and what they would like to change. Understand them and find out what you need to do to organize the team.

As a manager you should be on your best behavior, be well dressed and prompt. You should ensure that you don’t ignore your supervisor so you have to outline what you and the team want to do and how they relate to your boss. Meetings are important. you should have one meeting initially to help organize the team, and you should have meetings with the boss. Smile and greet everyone, develop a good working relationship. Ask questions that reveal what is important to their lives. Listen well and interact with them. Be positive and look forward to what you are working with..

Use positive comments. When people come to you with complaints and issues, make sure that you address them and listen to what they are saying so that their frustrations are brought to light. Make sure you know and understand what is good and effective in the workplace. Find out what people want in order to work hard. Some will be valued and feel validated when you issue praise. Work directly with the staff to understand what they are dealing with on a day to day basis. Finally, when you leave be cordial and say goodnight and ensure that you thank everyone. Have fun and make sure that you are working closely and positively with your staff.

Presenting Your Professional Skills

I would begin by providing a list of the classes and an overview of what the instruction was in a binder. I have printouts of much of what I have done work on, and I would be sure to include that, with a skills list. Today, many resumes have a skills section, but since the skills list is so long for a veterinary technician, it may be more appropriate to summarize them into sections. I would be sure to speak to the veterinarian and let them know of my skills.

I would take the initiative to volunteer to take over work when it is something I have been trained in. I would work out with the veterinarian what qualifies as “technical skills” that the technicians are trained in. This would help simplify the process.  Being present when needed and willing to help is vital. Effectively helping in as many situations as possible is important. It is good to provide documentation of your training, such as a class list, certificates and degrees. It is good to print out a “manual” of projects from training.

Technicians need a lot of training. Some skills must be demonstrated, while others need to have a hand’s on skill level. Technicians normally have training in office procedures, hospital procedures, pharmacy, pharmacology, nursing, anesthesia, laboratory procedures, imaging, laboratory animals, knowledge of surgical nursing and training in animal care and handling for a variety of species. I would read veterinary books and magazines to keep the information and training I have up to date. I would attend seminars and training events when possible and share my findings with the veterinarian and other staff if they were interested.

I would first organize all of this, and a private presentation with the veterinarian if possible. It would be an opportunity for me to discuss what I can help with and what specialized skills I have training in and can work with. When presenting to the veterinarian, I would be sure to have all the information organized so the meeting goes quickly and effectively with a good impact. Knowing that veterinarians are busy, I would provide as much information as quickly as possible without overwhelming. Providing a potential list of how it would monetarily affect businesses may be helpful.

Workplace Bullying

Bullying and horizontal violence need to be addressed by all members of the workplace. If I should witness something like that, I would stick up against the bully. If someone were to gossip, I would walk away. I understand that I should communicate with management so I would do that immediately. I would offer my skills to the employee to help them learn

There should be a workplace culture that supports the staff. If there are issues that allow the horizontal workplace to exist, they must be eliminated. It should first be recognized and acknowledged that there is such violence occurring. The management should be encouraged to continuously integrate the culture of cooperation and if there are any issues of horizontal workplace, they should be addressed. To ensure this is possible, I would communicate if I see any issues. There should be ways for staff member’s to effectively communicate what is happening to them. It would be management’s responsibility to post a statement addressing how people should act. All members of the staff should be talked to by the management to see that they understand the issues and that any occurrences are addressed. All staff should be provided the same opportunities to learn and grow. Staff should also be provided training on how to eliminate lateral violence.

Understanding that these are some of the basic guidelines, and what kinds of issues could happen from horizontal workplace, I would strive to do what I could to help resolve the issue/. I would name the issue, such as using the term “horizontal violence” in reference to the situation. Raising the issues at staff meetings may break the silence, allowing people to come forward. Asking the workplace if they have a method for handling the issue is important. If they do have a method, there should be a distribution of information. It has even been recommended to journal the situation. It is important to keep track of problems and how it is mentally affecting me and the other staff.

As a staff member, I could help reduce problems in this way by speaking up when I witness it, naming it for what it is and being supportive to the other staff. This can be as simple as counseling, peer support, meditation, exercise and more. To help with other staff, I could provide myself as a willing listener. It would be helpful in some situations to assist management by providing information. This can be simple enough, such as providing tips, such as what to do in the event of horizontal violence. Management should be made aware of the issues that can be caused from horizontal violence. If the violence is prevalent in the business, and it may be inflicted by management, then information must be addressed so that they understand how dangerous it is.

There are many problems and issues that can be expected from lateral violence. It could be high staff turnover, errors, low productivity, low self esteem and/or morale, disconnection, depression, insomnia or sleep disorders, anxiety and issues with relationships and more. These issues may even lead to memory dysfunction and activation of the brain’s circuit breakers. This could result in a perpetual form of disassociation which can cause forgetfulness and speechlessness. There are many aspects to how someone can react to the flight or fight response. Many people fear speaking out because they may be the next target or their job may be at risk. Post Traumatic Stress can also result.

I should also tend to myself, by ensuring that my needs are met. I can help reduce stress in myself through peer support, good nutrition, time out, sleep, meditation, massage, meditation and more. Self-caring behavior helps to reduce stress. I can manage myself in a self-aware way, helping to reduce any issues that could result from my activities. Counseling may be important and can be helpful support. I would want to gain confidence in my veterinary skills so I would read veterinary texts and manuals.

Management needs to be aware of the signs of workplace horizontal violence. Creating groups or cliques, gossip, intimidation, manipulation, harassment, exclusion and other ways of making someone feel bad are all signs. If there is a lack of respect, it goes into a downward spiral. Employees may react angrily and lash out at their co-workers. Empowering employees often helps direct them and gives them more morale. This helps everyone to get along and may take the stress off other employees. When you go to speak to employees, you should be proactive by documenting violent situations and schedule a private meeting. If I were to witness such a situation, I would mention this to the person who received the violence and I would tell them to give specifics. They should be encouraged to leave emotions out of it, and only to detail direct facts.  

Pets as Presents

Pets as presents can be a good idea or a bad idea, depending on the potential pet owner’s experience, financial strength, health, commitment, desire/need/interest and more. Animals take a lot of time and money to support and some of them are more expensive than others and take more maintenance. Some animals are more appropriate than others for particular people or locations. I know people who have gotten every imaginable pet as a gift, sometimes it works out, and sometimes it does not. I have heard lots of stories of people who have given up cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and more because they lack one or more of the requirements of responsible pet owners.

It is best to ask a few questions of the person who will be getting the gift. You should bring up the time it takes to take care of a pet, the costs (food, health, grooming, pet care, veterinary care, boarding/housing etc). Some pets like fish or reptiles have special conditions (substrate, medications, vitamins etc.) that need to be met to remain healthy. It is a commitment, and you should discuss if the person getting the animal will be able to tend to the animal for the entirety of its life. The animal should match the lifestyle of the owner. Going over boarding, housing, special keeping conditions, dietary needs and more all fall into this category to some degree or another and will help determine if it is a good idea to get a pet as a gift. It is harder to keep a horse in the city, and most people won’t keep an outdoor iguana in a cold location unless they have special care facilities.

I have always found it best to talk to the person you will give the animal to. It should not be a surprise. It should not be a “replacement for a passed pet” when one has passed recently unless the owner is looking for a new companion. Sometimes getting a new pet when you are not ready can be emotionally hard and may cause some resentment. They also should understand it is a completely new animal with its own health, personality and history, distinct from the prior pet.

Remind the person of the needs the animal will have including accessories and basic necessities. Let them know that they may find the finances a little easier, and their heart a little lighter if they adopt a shelter pet rather than get a new one from the pet store or breeder. Saving a life is always important! Don’t forget they may have to invest in training or behavioral care of some sort. Encourage them to vaccinate, microchip and provide the animal the best life, sometimes that means getting someone a pet, and sometimes that means you are buying someone a stuffed animal.

Marine Mammal Protection act

The Marine Mammal Protection act provides protection to marine mammals. There are rehabilitation center sand rescue centers for marine mammals. Each area helps different species depending on what kind of animals are local to the region. The animals must be treated with care yet not handled much so they do not attach to humans. Staff and volunteers need to help the animals but may not handle them much. Last year, I rented and watched a video on marine mammal rehabilitation. In the video, they showed the slurry fed to the animals and showed the feeding progression just as detailed in the text. It was interesting.