Question

Imagine you discover a new human parasite like T. gondii that forms cysts in the brain. You suspect it is altering human behavior. You also determine that it is transmitted through sharing food. In what ways would you predict that it zombifies its hosts (alters their behavior)?

Answer 1

Hello. This question is incomplete. The full question is:

Imagine you discover a new human parasite like T. gondii that forms cysts in the brain. You suspect it is altering human behavior. You also determine that it is transmitted through sharing food. In what ways would you predict that it zombifies its hosts (alters their behavior)?

a. It should make them feel sick and rest in bed.

b. It should make them want to host more people for social dinners.

c. It should make them want to prepare meals more.

d. It should reduce their sanitary practices (e.g. washing hands) while preparing food.

e. It should make them want to horde food.

Answer:

a. It should make them feel sick and rest in bed.

b. It should make them want to host more people for social dinners.

c. It should make them want to prepare meals more.

d. It should reduce their sanitary practices (e.g. washing hands) while preparing food.

Explanation:

The options shown above are the only ones that show possible changes in personal behaviors related exclusively to the behavior of a person, who may be suffering from the damage caused by a parasite in the brain. The "e" option does not represent a change in behavior and does not depend exclusively on a sick individual due to the action of a parasite.

As you may already know, the brain governs our body in all factors, for this reason, cysts in this organ can trigger behavioral changes.

Answer 2

Answer: a. It should make them feel sick and rest in bed.

Explanation:

The full question is:

Imagine you discover a new human parasite like T. gondii that forms cysts in the brain. You suspect it is altering human behavior. You also determine that it is transmitted through sharing food. In what ways would you predict that it zombifies its hosts (alters their behavior)?

a. It should make them feel sick and rest in bed.

b. It should make them want to host more people for social dinners.

c. It should make them want to prepare meals more.

d. It should reduce their sanitary practices (e.g. washing hands) while preparing food.

e. It should make them want to horde food.

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, a generally mild but potentially fatal disease, especially in cats and human fetuses. Cats and other felines are considered their ultimate hosts because the sexed phase of their life cycle takes place there, making these animals the primary hosts of the parasite. The asexual phase of the life cycle can occur in any warm-blooded animal, such as other mammals and birds. Therefore, toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonosis.

Parasites invade the cells, forming a compartment called the parasitophore vacuole which form cysts in tissues, especially in the muscles and brain. Because the parasite is inside the cells, the host immune system does not detect these cysts. Antibiotic resistance varies, but cysts are difficult to eradicate entirely. Therefore, T. gondii spreads within these vacuoles through a series of binary divisions until the infested cell eventually breaks free.

Some people have flu-like signs and symptoms, which may be:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Headache
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Widespread pain

In people with impaired immune systems, symptoms may also include:

• Confusion
• Lack of coordination
• Convulsions
• Blurred vision caused by intense swelling of the retina

In recent years, several investigations indicate that the parasite can cause changes in the behavior associated with impulsivity, and personality disorders. So, we could predict it zombifies the host by changes in the behavior, because of the damage caused by a parasite in the brain. It is important to consider that the brain governs the body, and cysts found there can trigger these changes.