Cat parasite leads to more boy babies

[hollister]

Cat parasite leads to more boy babies
A common cat parasite that can easily infect humans causes women to give birth to more boys than girls. Researchers at Prague's Charles University correlated data on nearly 2,000 babies with their mothers' levels of antibodies to toxoplasma, the parasite that infects humans through contact with cat nuts and also some uncooked pork and beef. From The Guardian:
They discovered that women whose antibody count was high - suggesting a substantial infection - had a much higher chance of having baby boys. In most populations the birth rate is around 51% boys, but women infected with toxoplasma had up to a 72% chance of a boy. Toxoplasma causes congenital defects in newborns and can trigger miscarriages, but a link with the gender of newborns has never been identified before...

In most cases the parasite is harmless in humans but it is still unclear what the infection does to people in the long term. Researchers at Oxford University have proposed that the parasite could explain altered personality and changes in IQ levels after their research on rats showed that infection can persuade rats into a suicidal attraction to cats.

full article at: www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1920165,00.html

[sciwriter]

Wow! Yet the cat is associated with females. And what can produce more girl babies? Carl

[scatts]

Presumably, dogs.

[sciwriter]

Scatts, do humans
produce more girls? Carl

[scatts]

Well, the only thing I know for sure, is that I do!

[rdywenur]

Scatts...is that why you got Winston. ;D How is he doing by the way.

[scatts]

He's doing well thanks. Slowly, very slowly, forming a better relationship with Zosia but he still prefers to hide while she's around and then come out to play when she goes to bed. She still treats him a little like a cuddly toy despite our best efforts to teach her otherwise.

[rdywenur]

Scatts, I think I would do the same...he is so damm adorable. It will take time. She is only 3.5 so acting as a child her age. I hope Winston isn't a shy kitty. My sister only had siameese and her last cat Tiki from the minute she got her ran under the ammoire (2 inches clearence) and hid. She tried to do this as she got older but found out quickly she did not fit. So now we find her in the bedroom closet under some bedding. You would never know she has a cat until it comes out to eat. The lady said she was very social. I think she lied as my sister was single so no other people.

[scatts]

He's shy while Zosia is active, the rest of the time he's not at all shy.

[kaima]

Well, my brother and sister-in-law must have had very clean cats. They have three daughters!

Kai

[jimpres]

Hmmm I had no cats and two girls. So.............no cats the same as clean cats.