Science activity on toxoplasmosis, aimed at fifth or sixth year students.
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
It is common to see in movies human zombies, few of them are animals. In real life there are some animals that turn into zombies. What makes them zombies are some types of parasites that invade the animals.
An example of these parasites is Toxoplasma Gondii, best known for causing toxoplasmosis. The being that is infected by the parasite is driven to look for cats and is attracted by the smell and even contracts strong emotions for them.
In rats, the parasite lodges itself in the brain and the animals practically become their servants. They run after cats, even being attracted by the smell of cat pee.
The parasite's intention with this approach of rats and cats is simple. The parasite only reproduces in the intestines of cats, so it brings the mouse closer to the cat so the cat can eat the infected mouse more easily.
In humans, the parasite may not cause symptoms or cause some symptoms such as, for example, difficulty in seeing, fever, tiredness, body aches, lesions spread throughout the body, etc. Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women is very serious as it can cause a series of complications to the fetus.
1) What is Toxoplasma Gondii?
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2) What does it cause in rats?
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3) What causes toxoplasmosis to lodge in the brain and not elsewhere in the mouse?
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4) Why are rats with toxoplasmosis considered zombies? Justify your answer.
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5) What is the intention of bringing rats and cats closer?
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For ACCESS
At answers are in the link above the header.
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