City rats are among the most despised creatures. But we actually fear disease when we see them and there is a good reason for that. Rats carry a rich combination of viruses and bacteria that may even be fatal in some cases. What pathogens the New York City rats carry around is a question that drove researchers from Columbia University to catch a couple of them for science. The team was led by … [Read more...]
Arctic Whales Infected With Domestic Cat Parasite!
A cat parasite called Toxoplasma gondii has been identified in Beluga in the western Arctic, which can cause blindness in people. For the Inuit people in the region who eat the whale's meat, the discovery by University of British Columbia scientists has prompted a health advisory. The free movement of pathogens is the result of the warming of the Arctic according to researchers. In the past the … [Read more...]