*Toxoplasma gondii*<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Toxoplasma_gondii_tachy.jpg> *T. gondii* tachyzoites <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachyzoite>Scientific classification <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification> Domain:Eukaryota <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryota>Kingdom: Chromalveolata <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromalveolata>Superphylum: Alveolata <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alveolata>Phylum:Apicomplexa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apicomplexa> Class:Conoidasida <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conoidasida>Subclass: Coccidiasina <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccidia>Order:Eucoccidiorida<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucoccidiorida> Family:Sarcocystidae <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcocystidae>Subfamily: Toxoplasmatinae<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toxoplasmatinae&action=edit&redlink=1> Genus:*Toxoplasma*Species:*T. gondii*Binomial name<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_nomenclature> *Toxoplasma gondii* (Nicolle & Manceaux, 1908)
*Toxoplasma gondii* (tŏk'sə-plāz'mə gŏn'dē-ī') is an obligate<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obligate_intracellular_parasite#Obligate>, intracellular, parasitic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasite> protozoan<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protozoa> that causes the disease toxoplasmosis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasmosis> .[1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-1>
Although *T. gondii* can infect, be transmitted by, and asexually reproduce<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asexual_reproduction> within humans and virtually all other warm-blooded animals, the parasite can sexually reproduce <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_reproduction> only within the intestines <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestine> of members of the cat family (felids) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felidae>.[8]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Dubey2009History-8> Felids are therefore defined as the definitive hosts<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_(biology)>
of *T. gondii*, with all other hosts defined as intermediate hosts.
*T. gondii* has been shown to alter the behavior of infected rodents<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent> in ways thought to increase the rodents<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#>' chances of being preyed <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predation> upon by cats.[9]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Webser2007-9> [10]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Webster2013-10> [11]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Berdoy2000-11> Because cats are the only hosts within which *T. gondii* can sexually reproduce to complete <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#> and begin its lifecycle, such behavioral manipulations are thought to be evolutionary adaptations <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation> to increase the parasite's reproductive success<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_(biology)> ,[11]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Berdoy2000-11> in one of the manifestations the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins> attributes to the "extended phenotype <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_phenotype>". Although numerous hypotheses exist and are being investigated, the mechanism of *T. gondii*–induced behavioral changes in rodents remains unknown.[12]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-McConkey2013-12>
A number of studies have suggested subtle behavioral or personality changes may occur in infected humans,[13]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Flegr2013-13> and infection with the parasite has recently been associated with a number of neurological disorders <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurological_disorder>, particularly schizophrenia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia>.[10]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Webster2013-10> However, evidence for causal <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causality> relationships remains limited.[10]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii#cite_note-Webster2013-10>
Ambrose Andrews <ambrose-bulk at vrvl.net> wrote:
> > There is virus that cats can pass to humans that, apart from causing
> miscarriages and the like, is also akin to a kind of mind control. Tests
> have shown that infected rats are less inclined to try to escape from the
> cats.
> >
> > So it probably isn't her fault, she is almost certainly infected with
> the virus, there is no other rational explanation for keeping 20 cats alive.
>
> Not a virus, a parasite:
>
> Toxoplasma Gondii.
>
> My second favourite parasite after the Liver Fluke.
>
> -AA.
>
>
^^^^^^^^^^^
CB: I believe we have an even more specific biological metaphor than the
general parasite for finance capitalist bourgeoisie with the mind control
aspect in Toxoplasma Gondii
The Koch Brothers : Toxoplasma Gondii
