world cup and Toxoplasmosis Funny

http://science.slashdot.org/story/10...ld-Cup-Success

mahiskali writes "A parasite commonly found in cats, Toxoplasma gondii , has an unnerving relation to World Cup victories by country. (This parasite was discussed here twice in 2006.) Toxo can be found in almost every type of mammal, from rats to humans. The overall goal of the parasite is to end up in a feline stomach, which is the only place it can reproduce. In other mammals, humans for example, the parasite heads for the brain. It is estimated that nearly 1/3 of the human population has a latent Toxo infection, with individual countries having infection rates varying from 6% (Korea) to 92% (Ghana). Countries with greater incidence of this parasitic infection in their populations tend to win more World Cups than those without. The article, writtem by a Stanford University neuroscientist, goes on to try out various rationales for such a correlation, ranging from increased testosterone to increased dissent of authority — all symptoms of a Toxo infection. Now we just need to find a parasite that causes an inability to referee properly, and we'll have this whole World Cup business all sorted out."

There have been some fascinating studies on the taxoplasmosis lifecycle. The mouse eats the cat poop which cause some brain changes so the mouse runs toward the smell of cat urine and acting bizarre to attract the cat's attention. And as the owners of good mousers can tell you, the idea of letting a mouse stupid enough to attract attention will meet its demise. So the taxoplasmosis ends up in a cat's stomach where it starts the whole cycle over.

Pretty amazing how it all works, eh?