Zoophilia and health

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Equines can transmit Brucellosis, Leptospirosis, and Q fever.

Sexual contact with animals is associated with several significant health risks. Areas of possible concern are infection, physical injury and allergic reaction.

Zoonoses acquired via sexual contact

Infections that are transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonoses. Some zoonoses may be transferred through casual contact, but others are much more readily transferred by activities that expose humans to the semen, vaginal fluids, urine, saliva, feces and blood of animals. This means that sexual activity with animals is sometimes a high risk activity. It is advisable for practitioners of bestiality to assess their relative risk, since risk varies for each species involved, for each disease mentioned below (and others not mentioned), and for each region in the world. Some of the more common zoonoses are listed at the National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).[1][2]

List of zoonoses

Animal diseases that can be transmitted sexually to humans
(Note: not all diseases listed)
Zoonosis Mode of transmission Carrier species Regions Risky sex acts Fact sheet
Brucellosis semen, vaginal fluids, urine D,E,R,P A,AF,Er,SA,NAr A,B,P,S,V eMedicine
See details below
Leptospirosis
(Weil's disease)  		 semen and urine D,E,R,P,Z W A,P,S eMedicine
Complicated to treat; easily misdiagnosed; requires urgent hospitalization at specialist center
Q fever semen, vaginal fluids, urine C,D,E,R,P W A,B,F,M,P,S,V eMedicine
Treated w/ antibiotics, sometimes long-term; vaccine available in Australia & E. Europe
Rabies saliva C,D,E W (not AUS) B,M CDC
Lethal if untreated; vaccine available (people & animals); post-exposure prophylaxis if exposed
Flea tapeworm saliva[3] C,D W M[3] CDC
Readily treated w/ anti-parasitics
Echinococcosis
(Hydatid disease)  		 fecal-oral C,D,Z W F,M CDC
Surgical removal of tapeworm cyst; possibly fatal if untreated.
Campylobacter fecal-oral B,C,D,P,R,Z W F,M eMedicine
Readily treated w/ specific antibiotics
Cryptosporidium fecal-oral B,C,D,Z W F,M eMedicine
Protozoal infection, usually causes a self-limited diarrhea
Cysticercosis
(Pork tapeworm)		 fecal-oral P W F CDC
Readily treated w/ anti-parasitics; (rarely) may require surgery (eye, brain)
Giardia fecal-oral C,D,R,Z W F,M CDC
Diarrhea; readily treated w/ anti-protozoal drugs
Salmonella fecal-oral B,C,D,E,R,P,Z W F,M CDC
Self-limited diarrhea, complete recovery usual, rarely causes reactive arthritis
Toxocariasis
(Dog roundworm)		 fecal-oral C,D W F,M CDC
Treated w/ anti-parasitics; usually benign but may be dangerous (eye)
High Prevalence†Region code
Code Region
A/Ar Asia, all/regions
AF/AFr Africa, all/regions
AUS Australia
E/Er Europe, all/regions
NA/NAr North America, all/regions
SA/SAr South America, all/regions
W Worldwide
Sexual activity†† code
Code Activity
A Human-receptive anal
B Involves contact with animal blood
F Involves contact with animal feces
M Involves mouth-to-mouth contact
P Penetration, genital-to-genital
S Involves contact with animal semen
V Involves contact with animal vaginal fluids
Species code
Code Species
B Birds (incl. Poultry)
C Cats
D Dogs
E Equines (Horses, donkeys etc.)
R Ruminants (goats, sheep etc.)
P Pigs
Z Other

† May occur in other areas but at a lower rate. †† Not a definitive list. Not medical advice.

Brucellosis

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Main article: Brucellosis

Brucellosis in humans is a potentially life-threatening multisystem disease that can be extremely difficult to treat.[4] There are several varieties of Brucellosis, all caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, the most notable being B. abortus and B. melitensis which affect larger species of domestic animals, and B. canis which infects dogs and other canids. All are widely spread around the world. The most severe infections are thought to be associated with B. melitensis which primarily infects goats, sheep, and camels in the Mediterranean, Asia, Latin America, parts of Africa and some southern European countries. Humans can catch B. canis through contact with the body fluids of infected dogs, especially semen, urine and vaginal fluids. Dogs can be infected with Brucellosis without showing any signs or symptoms, and infection can only be diagnosed with specific blood tests.[5] The typical symptoms of the type of brucellosis contracted from dogs are: fever that comes and goes, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, malaise, sore joints, low back pain, spine pain, headache, depression, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, unsteadiness of gait, and urinary retention.[6] Heart and lung complications can occur.[7] Infected people exhibit only some of these symptoms. Other forms of brucellosis can be more severe.

With approximately 500,000 zoonotic infections a year worldwide (source:CDC), brucellosis places a large burden on humanity. Brucellosis has been reduced to rare disease status in North America (excluding Mexico) and northern Europe through vaccination and eradication programs, but it remains rife throughout the rest of the world. In most countries up to 10% of dogs carry this bacterium, and even up to 42.7% in some provinces of China,[8] representing a major threat to the health of veterinarians and people who handle the blood or semen of infected animals. In the USA, there are only about 100 cases of human brucellosis diagnosed per year,[9] although some sources consider it underdiagnosed and underreported.[10] Most other countries have much higher rates, with high risk areas including the Mediterranean Basin (Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa), South and Central America (including Mexico), Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.

Emerging zoonoses

New diseases that can jump from animals to humans are called emerging zoonoses. The emerging zoonosis situation changes constantly, in an upward trend.[11] An example from the equine species is the rare Hendra virus, originally passed from flying foxes to horses. The implications for zoophilic sexual contact of each emerging disease should be carefully assessed by practitioners.

Zoophilia and human sexually transmitted diseases

HIV / AIDS

HIV (the "AIDS" virus) was originally a zoonosis acquired from primates (notably monkeys) in Africa,[12] probably via hunting and eating but possibly via animal bite.[13] It only lives in primates (apes and monkeys) and is not believed to survive long in other species or away from the human body and fluids.[14]

Other STDs

Human sexually transmitted diseases ("STDs") are not carried or transmitted by animals.[citation needed]

However, many human pathogens can survive in animal fluids for a limited time, and therefore STDs may theoretically be transmitted by an animal that has multiple consecutive human sexual partners in a short enough time frame to allow pathogen survival.

Bites and other physical injury

Humans may be at substantial physical risk and seriously harmed by sexual activity with animals. Larger animals may have the strength and defensive attributes (e.g. teeth, hooves, horns, claws) to injure a human, either in rejecting physical or sexual contact, or during sexual arousal.

Bites

Many animals bite as part of sexual excitement and foreplay. Animals carry numerous bacteria in their mouths capable of causing disease after a bite. The most common risk after an animal bite is simple infection (infection risk approximately 15-20% in the USA,[15] may be higher elsewhere), and for dogs and other large animals injury from the force of the bite.[15] Bacterial bite infections are usually fully curable,[15] although dog bites may cause Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga canimorsus infections,[16][17] which may have severe consequences.

Other injury

The sexual organs of other species may not safely conform to the human anatomy. For example, the penis of a sexually aroused dog has a broad bulb at the base which can cause injury if forcibly pulled from a woman's vagina, and equine penises can thrust suddenly and "flare" inside a human orifice.[18]

In 2005, Kenneth Pinyan, a resident of Enumclaw, Washington state died from internal injury after being anally penetrated by a stallion. In 2002, a 62-year-old farmer in Bulgaria was treated for a torn rectum after sex with a boar (male pig).[19] In 1976, a 46-year-old French farmer underwent surgery for peritonitis after sex with a boar.[20]

Allergic reactions

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Main article: Allergy

Sensitization and allergic reactions to animal saliva and semen may occur, ranging from mild irritation to anaphylaxis.[21][22] Although dried skin flakes, known as dander, are the most commonly cited allergen,[23] dog saliva is a more potent allergen than dander.[21] An estimated 10% of people are allergic to animals in general, rising to 20-30% amongst asthma sufferers;[24] the percentage of people allergic to animal secretions in particular is currently unknown. Repeated exposure to secretions after sensitization has already occurred may subsequently provoke an anaphylactic reaction, which can be life-threatening, and should be avoided.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 An animal that has been nipping at the fleas will still have partially digested fleas in its mouth and can transfer the larvae. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ It should be noted that the routine brucellosis test for humans does not test for Brucella canis, only Brucella abortus.
    Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ From educational material published by the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (phru) and HIVSA, a UK based charity supporting HIV/AIDS awareness and training in Africa: "Resilient: Within the human body, HIV is a strong virus and can live and grow under almost any conditions ... Dependent: HIV depends on the environment in the human body (the temperature of the blood and other factors) to survive. Volatile: Outside of the human body, HIV is very weak and can survive for a short period only: between three seconds and one minute. If a scab forms over an open wound or if the blood is contained within a needle capsule, however, then the virus within that blood may be protected and enabled to live slightly longer." (ie, the presence of blood or fluids allows longer survival.)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Bodil Joensen commented in a 1980s interview that "I was afraid to let other women do the same with the [stallion] as I. It requires a special technique. When they cum, their glans swells up, and it can split your vagina. I have had some stitches once I didn't pull it out in time"
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Dog hair, or fur is often cited as an allergen in respect of dogs. In fact the fur itself is not a significant allergen; rather it is the dander, or other allergens such as pollen on the fur, which are normally responsible. [1]
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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