Cats the secret to World Cup success?

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The discussion centers on the potential influence of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, found in cat feces, on athletic performance, particularly in soccer. Research suggests that exposure to this parasite may elevate testosterone levels, which could enhance physical abilities. Historical data from the 2006 World Cup indicates a correlation between higher infection rates of Toxoplasma in a country's population and their success in the tournament, with countries like Ghana having a significantly higher infection rate compared to the US. This raises the question of whether owning more cats could improve the US team's chances of winning. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of Toxoplasma infection, including behavioral changes in humans, such as increased aggression in men and sociability in women, as well as potential health risks. Overall, while the link between cat ownership and soccer success is speculative, it highlights intriguing connections between parasitic infections and human behavior.
BobG
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Are cats the secret to World Cup success?

According to this article, Could a brain parasite found in cats help soccer teams win at the World Cup?, exposure to cat feces could improve a person's athletic performance.

Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite transported in cat feces, increases the tetosterone levels in the brain when cat feces are ingested (intentionally or unintentionally). And, better yet, drug tests don't currently test for toxo.

Going back to 2006, 15 of the 16 quarterfinal games were one by the country having a higher infection rate of their population. So the US finally has a legitimate excuse for losing to Ghana. Only 12% of the US population is infected with the brain parasite while 92% of Ghana's population is infected by the brain parasite.

If the US wants to win a World Cup, clearly we need to own more cats!

And a mere 6% infection rate clearly explains England's poor performance in spite of so many star players.

Or not. :smile:

Even if there was causation instead of a coincidental correlation, I'm not sure winning would be worth it.
 
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BobG said:
Are cats the secret to World Cup success?

According to this article, Could a brain parasite found in cats help soccer teams win at the World Cup?, exposure to cat feces could improve a person's athletic performance.

Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite transported in cat feces, increases the tetosterone levels in the brain when cat feces are ingested (intentionally or unintentionally). And, better yet, drug tests don't currently test for toxo.

Going back to 2006, 15 of the 16 quarterfinal games were one by the country having a higher infection rate of their population. So the US finally has a legitimate excuse for losing to Ghana. Only 12% of the US population is infected with the brain parasite while 92% of Ghana's population is infected by the brain parasite.

If the US wants to win a World Cup, clearly we need to own more cats!

And a mere 6% infection rate clearly explains England's poor performance in spite of so many star players.

Or not. :smile:

Even if there was causation instead of a coincidental correlation, I'm not sure winning would be worth it.

Does the success rate hold true for past World Cups as well?
 
12% of Americans eat cat poop?
 
If it makes you stronger/faster, is it fair to call it a parasite?
 
leroyjenkens said:
12% of Americans eat cat poop?

Oh, I'm sure it's higher than that. Cats are unsanitary and they crawl on everything. I'm sure just about every kid in any family that has a cat has ingested at least a little cat poop.

The percentage is just for those infected with the toxo parasite.
 
BobG said:
Oh, I'm sure it's higher than that. Cats are unsanitary and they crawl on everything. I'm sure just about every kid in any family that has a cat has ingested at least a little cat poop.

The percentage is just for those infected with the toxo parasite.

In that case, just smelling it is technically ingesting it.
 
Fascinating stuff:
Wikipedia said:
Studies have also shown behavioral changes in humans, including slower reaction times and a sixfold increased risk of traffic accidents among infected males, as well as links to schizophrenia including hallucinations and reckless behavior. Additionally, studies of students and conscript soldiers in the Czech Republic in the mid-1990s highlighted the fact that infected people showed different personality traits to uninfected people—and that the differences depended on sex. Infected women were more likely to become more outgoing and showed signs of higher intelligence, while men became aggressive, jealous and suspicious
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii
 

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