Dr Fuller Torrey, president of the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, has found that the parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii, often found in cat droppings, can produce a vulnerability to the onset of schizophrenia later in life.
Torrey’s research shows that young children from families of cat owners, or fetal babies of mothers who have cats, are more likely to develop the serious psychiatric illness than those who do not.
The exact causes of schizophrenia have been difficult to elucidate. There is no known genetic cause of the disease, although the likelihood of developing the disorder is increased among monozygotic twins of schizophrenia sufferers. Linking the disease to a bacteria or virus is a relatively under explored theory of schizophrenia etiology. Previous studies have correlated an increase in prevalence to winter births, a possible association with pre- or perinatal infection. However, the association of an exact parasite found in animal waste to disease onset is a relatively novel idea.
The research showed childhood cat owners had a 53% increased risk of developing schizophrenia. Furthermore, children who were breast fed had a 51% increase in risk. However, statisticians believe such figures need to be viewed with caution. With so many variables that cannot be accounted for the percentage of people at increased risk needs to be far higher to establish an actual cause.
Torrey admits that the present study hasn’t provided any conclusive findings but has opened up an area for future research. If such a link was proven, vaccines aimed at blocking such parasitic infections could be a useful preventative measure in the fight against schizophrenia.