Folia Parasitologica 57[2] 143-150 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.018

The influence of RhD phenotype on toxoplasmosis- and age-associated changes in personality profile of blood donors

Jaroslav Flegr1, Martina Novotná1, Anna Fialová1, Petra Kolbeková1, Zdeňka Gašová2
1 Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic
2 Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, U nemocnice 1, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic

Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite infecting 20-60% of humans in various countries, influences the behaviour of infected animal and human hosts. Infected human subjects have changes in several of Cattell's and Cloninger's personality factors. Recently, three independent studies have shown that Rh-positive subjects are protected against the T. gondii-induced changes of reaction times and increased risk of traffic accidents. Here we searched for evidence of similar effects of RhD phenotype on toxoplasmosis- or aging-associated changes in the personality profile of about 302 blood donors. We found that Rh-positive and Rh-negative subjects responded differently to toxoplasmosis. In addition to the already known effects of toxoplasmosis on novelty seeking, self transcendence, superego strength and protension, we also found effects of RhD phenotype on ego strength, protension, and praxernia, as well as opposite effects of toxoplasmosis on ego strength, praxernia, ergic tension and cooperativeness in Rh-positive and Rh-negative subjects. Moreover, our results indicate that RhD phenotype might influence not only the effect of toxoplasmosis but also the effect of aging on specific personality traits.

Keywords: parasite, manipulation, personality, blood group, Rh factor, Cattell 16PF, Cloninger TCI, Rhesus factor, aging, senescence

Received: March 20, 2010; Accepted: April 30, 2010; Published: June 1, 2010  Show citation

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Flegr, J., Novotná, M., Fialová, A., Kolbeková, P., & Gašová, Z. (2010). The influence of RhD phenotype on toxoplasmosis- and age-associated changes in personality profile of blood donors. Folia Parasitologica, 57(2), 143-150. doi: 10.14411/fp.2010.018
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