As one scientist suggested, there are “more viruses out there than we will probably ever discover”.
While things like zombies currently remain the premise of horror movies and video games, it appears that even such outlandish hazards may, in theory, become real, the Daily Express reports.
As the newspaper explains, a certain parasite called Toxoplasma gondii can manipulate the brains of the rodents it infects, which worries some scientists due to the similarities between humans and rats.
Wendy Ingham, a researcher involved in a study conducted by the University of California, noted that heir team tested the parasite on mice which became “unfazed by the presence of a predator once infected”, as toxoplasmosa seeks to move to a feline’s intestinal tract in order to reproduce.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ben Neuman, a professor of virology at the University of Reading, pointed at another potential threat – the possible evolution of some virus.
Turning his attention to rabies, Neuman noted that this virus “completely changes the way a dog behaves”.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
