Womenwhoowncatsaremorelikelytohavementalhealthproblemsandkillthemselvesbecausetheycanbeinfectedbyacommonparasitethatcanbecaughtfromcatlitter,astudyhasfound.ResearchersfoundwomeninfectedwiththeToxoplasmago

　　Womenwhoowncatsaremorelikelytohavementalhealthproblemsandkillthemselvesbecausetheycanbeinfectedbyacommonparasitethatcanbecaughtfromcatlitter,astudyhasfound.

　　ResearchersfoundwomeninfectedwiththeToxoplasmagondii(T.gondii)parasite(刚地弓形虫),whichisspreadthroughcontactwithcatwasteoreatingundercookedmeatorunwashedvegetables,areatincreasedriskofattemptingsuicide.

　　Thestudyinvolvedmorethan45,000womeninDenmark.Aboutathirdoftheworld’spopulationisinfectedwiththeparasite,whichhidesincellsinthebrainandmuscles,oftenwithoutproducingsymptoms.

　　Theinfection,whichiscalledtoxoplasmosis(弓形虫病),hasbeenlinkedtomentalillness,suchasschizophrenia(精神分裂症),andchangesinbehavior.

　　Thestudy’sseniorauthorDoctorTeodorPostolache,anassociateprofessorofpsychiatry(精神病学)attheUniversityofMarylandSchoolofMedicineintheUnitedStates,said,“Wecan’tsaywithcertaintythatT.gondiicausedthewomentotrytokillthemselves,butwedidfindapredictiveassociationbetweentheinfectionandsuicideattemptslaterinlifethatdeservesadditionalstudies.”

　　DoctorAlbertReece,vicepresidentofmedicalaffairsattheUniversityofMaryland,said,“T.gondiiinfectionisamajorpublichealthproblemaroundtheworld,andmanypeopledon’trealizethey’reinfected.

　　“DrPostolacheisaleadingexpertonsuicideneuroimmunology(神经免疫学).Suicideisacriticallyimportantmentalhealthissue.Aboutonemillionpeoplecommitsuicideandanother10millionattemptsuicideworldwideeachyear.Wehopethatthistypeofresearchwillonedayhelpusfindwaystosavemanylivesthatnowendtooearlyinsuicide.”

　　Dr.Postolache’sresearchteamattheUniversityofMarylandwasthefirsttoreportaconnectionbetweenT.gondiiandsuicidalbehaviorin2009.HeiscooperatingwithresearchersinDenmark,GermanyandSwedentoconfirmandinvestigatethewayleadingtothisassociation.

　　TheT.gondiiparasitethrivesintheintestinesofcats,anditisspreadthroughtheirwaste.Allwarm-bloodedanimalscanbecomeinfectedthroughcontactwithit.Humanscanbecomeinfectedbychangingtheirinfectedcats’litterboxes,eatingunwashedvegetables,drinkingwaterfromapollutedso