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gondii–induced behavioral changes in rodents are now known to occur through epigenetic remodeling in neurons that govern the relevant behaviors which, for example, modifies epigenetic methylation to cause hypomethylation of arginine vasopressin-related genes in the medial amygdala, such that predator aversion is greatly decreased.
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Rats that do not avoid cats' habitations will more likely become cat prey. gondii can sexually reproduce to complete and begin its lifecycle, such behavioral manipulations are thought to be evolutionary adaptations that increase the parasite's reproductive success. Because cats are the only hosts within which T. gondii-infected rats have a decreased aversion to cat urine. Support for this "manipulation hypothesis" stems from studies showing that T. gondii has been shown to alter the behavior of infected rodents in ways that increase the rodents' chances of being preyed upon by felids. gondii is capable of infecting virtually all warm-blooded animals, : 1 but felids, such as domestic cats, are the only known definitive hosts in which the parasite may undergo sexual reproduction. Toxoplasma gondii ( / ˈ t ɒ k s oʊ p l æ z m ə ˈ ɡ ɒ n d i aɪ/) is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan (specifically an apicomplexan) that causes toxoplasmosis.