Cat scratches, not bites, are associated with unipolar depression - cross-sectional study

• Published in: Parasites & vectors Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 8
• Main Authors: Flegr, Jaroslav, Hodný, Zdeněk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 05.01.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animals; bacteria; Bartonella henselae; Bartonella henselae - physiology; Cat-Scratch Disease - microbiology; Cats; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - microbiology; Depression, Mental; Dogs; emotions; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Internet; Male; Multivariate Analysis; parasites; pathogens; patients; probability; Protozoa; Risk factors; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasma gondii; toxoplasmosis

A recent study performed on 1.3 million patients showed a strong association between being bitten by a cat and probability of being diagnosed with depression. Authors suggested that infection with cat parasite Toxoplasma could be the reason for this association. A cross sectional internet study on a...