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SUMMARY:The impact of Toxoplasma gondii on host behaviour: can this parasi
 te play a role in some cases of human schizophrenia? - Joanne Webster\,  C
 hair of Parasitic Diseases\, Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology\
 ,\, Centre for Emerging\, Endemic and Exotic Diseases (CEEED)\, RVC\; and 
 Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology\, Imperial College Faculty o
 f Medicine\, London
DTSTART:20150429T151500Z
DTEND:20150429T161500Z
UID:TALK56544@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Fiona Roby
DESCRIPTION:The ability of parasites to alter the behaviour of their hosts
  fascinates both scientists and non-scientists alike. One reason that this
  topic resonates with so many is that it touches on core philosophical iss
 ues such as the existence of free will. If the mind is merely a machine\, 
 then it can be controlled by any entity that understands the code and has 
 access to the machinery. One key example is the potential epidemiological 
 and neuropathological association between some cases of schizophrenia with
  exposure to the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.   T. gondii establishes pers
 istent infection within the CNS and can alter host behaviour.  Altered dop
 amine levels have been reported for both T. gondii infection and schizophr
 enia. Moreover\, several of the medications used to treat schizophrenia an
 d other psychiatric disease demonstrate a anti-T. gondii\, properties in v
 ivo and vitro.  Furthermore\, it appears that the parasite itself may actu
 ally be a source of this neurotransmitter. Using the epidemiologically and
  clinically applicable rat-T. gondii  model system\, I present a series of
  studies and discuss them in terms of their theoretical and applied implic
 ations for animal and human health.
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre 2\, Department of Veterinary Medicine
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