Is there a disease that makes us love cats? - Jaap de Roode
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TEDEd Animation
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Today, about a third of the world’s population is infected with a strange disease called toxoplasmosis — and most of them never even know it. And while the parasite can multiply in practically any host, it can only reproduce sexually in the intestines of cats. Could this disease be the reason so many people love cats and keep them as pets? Jaap de Roode shares what we know about toxoplasmosis.
Infection with Toxoplasma is associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents. This could be due to the parasite causing a lack of concentration and increased reaction times. Can you think of an experiment to confirm whether infection with Toxoplasma truly increases the risk of accidents?
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Jaap de Roode
- Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
- Director Anton Bogaty
- Narrator Addison Anderson
