Fossil evidence for mind-controlling parasites from 48 million years ago

Mind-controlling parasites date back millions of years: Unnerving variety of creatures evolved ability to control brains

Mind control by parasite sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but not only have scientists revealed that it is real across a range of animals including perhaps humans they now even have fossil evidence suggesting it has taken place for millions of years.

An unnerving variety of parasites have evolved the ability to control the brains of victims to help the parasites spread. For instance, the protozoan known as Toxoplasma gondi imakes rats love cat urine so that it can spread among its feline hosts and it may influence human culture as well, making people more prone to certain forms of neuroticism.

Another case of parasite mind control involves the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, which essentially turns ants into zombies. It maneuvers the insects into biting down on the major veins of the undersides of leaves just before they die the fungus then rapidly grows a stalk from their victims' heads, releasing spores to infect more ants.

I've heard of the ant fungous before (thanks to YKWIA). Here's a video of what happens to them. It's unnerving...

Cool and horrific at the same time...

YKWIA showed me this from National Geographic:


It is rather Cthulhoid. Can you imagine this happening to a person?

A little scary

A couple of articles from recent editions of the Medscape paediatrics newsletter. You may need to register for free access to them.

Parasitic Infections More Common in US Than Had Been Thought (based on a paper called Neglected Diseases and Poverty in “The Other America”: The Greatest Health Disparity in the United States?) (Of course, parasites are found particularly in poor, inner city children and adults. But millions are affected, and the percentages are a little startling in such an 'advanced' country.)

Increased Rates of Child Maltreatment in Military Families During Deployments?

(As a former military brat, I thought this deserved a look. Interestingly, they found that there is an increase in child maltreatment by mothers while fathers are deployed. There is, however, not an increase when fathers are the caregivers and the mothers are deployed.) Also, the increase affecte white families, but did not have a similar correlation in Blacks and Hispanics. Sexual abuse did not increase during deployements.)