Arranhão de gato e...

... esquizofrenia?
https://zap.aeiou.pt/inicio-subito-esquizofrenia-gato-247244

Citando:
"O verdadeiro culpado pelo declínio da saúde mental do adolescente foi uma bactéria associada ao que é conhecido como “doença do arranhão do gato”. O paciente está bem, mas o caso deixou os investigadores curiosos sobre as ligações entre infeção e doença neurológica.

A Bartonella henselae é uma bactéria que costuma estar presente no sangue de gatos, especialmente crias. Transmitido através de uma mordida ou arranhão, pode produzir inchaço e lesões localizadas e, ocasionalmente, problemas mais sérios no coração e no sistema nervoso. Mas uma coisa pela qual não é conhecida é por causar esquizofrenia."

Toxoplasmose, gatos e doenças mentais?

http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/cat-parasite-linked-development-mental-illness-owners/

Citando:
"Toxoplasma gondii – suggests that it can be linked to mental illness in owners, particularly schizophrenia.

T. gondii is, as parasites tend to be, fairly deceptive. It has been shown to alter the behavior of mice, causing them to become "suicidal." Mice have acute olfactory glands, meaning that they have a keen sense of smell. Whenever they can smell cat urine, they tend to avoid it, wary of the nearby threat. If infected with T. gondii, however, they are not averse to it; in many cases, they actively wander towards the smell. This, as you might expect, leaves them exposed to cat predation. After a quick pounce and kill, the mouse – along with its piggybacking parasites – are ingested by the cat."

Gatos podem levar a cancro da próstata?

1/3 dos gatos no RU são portadores de um parasita (toxoplasma gondii) que se infectar os donos leva a inflamação crónica que facilita o aparecimento de cancro da próstata:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4526256/Cats-cause-prostate-cancer-men-spreading-parasite.html

Citando:
"A parasite spread by cats could be a factor in causing prostate cancer in men
Scientists found microscopic bug Toxoplasma gondii can trigger inflammation
Chronic inflammation is known to double the risk of developing the cancer
The parasite is carried by cats, is shed in their faeces therefore can spread easily
(...)
Humans can then be infected by drinking contaminated water, eating unwashed vegetables or handling cat litter trays.

More than 46,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in the UK.

Dr Travis Jerde, a professor of toxicology at Indiana University and one of the study authors, said: ‘No one should be getting rid of their cat because of this study, but precautions should be taken when working or playing in areas where cats may have gone to the bathroom – like a garden or sandbox.’"

Gatos e esquizofrenia? Não.

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bdn06/cats-dont-make-people-crazy-scientists-make-people-crazy-20170225

Citando:
"The list goes on. And on. And on.

Despite that, new research released this week shows “no link between owning a feline and exhibiting psychotic symptoms.”

Yes, the mere fact that scientific research has been done on this subject reveals that something is definitely not right with cat owners.

Still, the University College London, a research university in London, did an extensive study.

Why? Because other research revealed cats are a primary host of Toxoplasma Gondi, or T. Gondi for short. T. Gondi causes mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.

The study followed about 5,000 people born in 1991 or 1992, people who had cats while their mothers were pregnant or grew up in houses with cats.

“Our study suggests that cat ownership during early pregnancy or in early childhood does not post a direct risk for late psychotic symptoms,” Dr. James Kirkbride, the study’s senior author said in a news release.

He did caution that T. Gondi exposure could lead to serious birth defects and other health problems in children.”"

As notícias sobre o perigo dos gatos de rua desdramatizadas (NHS)

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2016/09September/Pages/cuddling-a-kitten-almost-certainly-wont-kill-you.aspx
Citando:
"But cat lovers can relax – deaths and serious illness from "killer kittens" with so-called cat scratch disease (CSD) are exceedingly rare.
In fact, the study on which this and other headlines are based did not report any deaths, although it estimated 500 people are admitted to hospital in the US each year with the disease.
CSD is caused by bacteria spread among cats by fleas, which can infect humans through scratches and possibly bites from cats.
It causes swollen lymph glands. Some people get more serious infections, leading to inflammation of the brain or the inner lining of the heart."