Toxoplasma CoVidii - have you noticed that those who have gotten CoVid, suddenly seem to no longer care about avoiding it?
This is similar to Toxoplasma gondii which removes rats' fear of cats.
A 🧵 of Toxoplasma CoVidii stories nature.com/articles/natur…
Toxoplasma CoVidii - the Mall.
Toxoplasma CoVidii - the Bookseller.
Toxoplasma CoVidii the Housemate.
Toxoplasma CoVidii - the Ex.
Have you seen ole Beelzebub CoVid controlling a friend? A loved one?
You?
Go ahead and reply with your story if you want - or bring your trusting self along for some studies.
You can trust me...
(Pic by @ampincivero.).
It does look like trust in strangers increases when infected. Goes lower after infection, but remains higher than before.
H/T @TRyanGregory for the study. He is not responsible for any shenanigans within this thread.
pnas.org/doi/full/10.10…
And of course, we know that CoVid can easily enter the brain via the olfactory bulb.
mdpi.com/1648-9144/56/1…
And this is how the old "mask below the nose" is literally the worst thing you could do. Because the nose is how it is most likely getting into our brains.
And once it gets in there, all sorts of damage can be done, only to be manifested in symptoms such as memory loss (forgetting to be careful), learning deficits (can't learn to be careful), and general behavioral impairment - and so much more!!
mdpi.com/1648-9144/56/1…
Interestingly, THIS SAME STUDY postulates that CoVid has spread too fast, and that host/parasite interactions should be examined 👇👇.
So, that's it for the science. Please open your history books, and let's continue with our review of the Constitution....
We, the People of the Toxoplasma CoVidii,
in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do...
Seek others
Unexpectedly, an article published in Science Direct has discussed Toxoplasma CoVidii as a possibility.
@mikealbeland - a very grateful thank you!
Keeping in mind these are hypotheses, not fact, about the possible host-pathogen interaction.
Host manipulation has been found in toxoplasmosis, rabies, and influenza.
And Zombies. My shenanigans, not from the article.
Hypotheses 1. The virus promotes social contact.
1a. Delayed incubation aka growing an Alien inside of you as in Sigourney Weaver.
1b. Your anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) gets manipulated so you seek out new people. The lonely hearts club, in other words.
Hypothesis 2
2a. Separation anxiety as discussed happen with children. I think of this one as the "Children of the Corn" hypothesis.
2b. Lower serum cholesterol levels might correlate with depressive and anxious patients. To alleviate that, you seek out company.
Hypothesis 3 - this one is all kinds of crazy. The fetus is born and becomes a vector of transmission.
Vaguely like Leptopilina boulardi.
A wasp that lays its eggs in fly maggots. That burst forth and eat the maggots.
Plot twist....
There is a mind controlling virus that controls the wasp. That invades the body of the fly maggot.
Nature is fun!
This thread might make a good story to read your children right before they go to bed?
Anyway....
nationalgeographic.com/science/articl…
Hypothesis 4 seems to be the completely unassociated with the topic.
The cognitive issues raised farther up in the top of the story are more relevant.
Personally, I think the ending is the most accurate and relevant part.
In my minds eye, I see a panned out shot, while Sir David Attenborough reads this ending, on the left, while a tilt-shift lens slowly fades to black. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
In my m
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