Zoophilia and health

This article describes the health implications of sexual contact with animals (see: Zoophilia). 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. A few of 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).] 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.Cite web|url=http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic248.htm|title=Brucellosis|accessdate=2006-12-06|publisher=eMedicine|year=2006|author=Wafa Al-Nassir|format=html] Heart and lung complications can occur.cite journal |author=Piampiano P, McLeary M, Young LW, Janner D |title=Brucellosis: unusual presentations in two adolescent boys |journal=Pediatric radiology |volume=30 |issue=5 |pages=355–7 |year=2000 |pmid=10836605 |doi=] 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,cite journal | author=Shang DQ| title= [Investigation of B. canis infection in China] | journal=Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi| year=1989| volume=10| issue=1| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=2661007&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_DocSum| pages=24–29] 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, [It should be noted that the routine brucellosis test for humans does not test for [http://jmm.sgmjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/5/457 Brucella canis] , only [http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year2/mmid/bms5300/bugs/brucella.html Brucella abortus] .] although some sources consider it underdiagnosed and underreported."...family physicians are not well versed in recognizing and treating this potentially life-threatening condition .... Studies have shown that in the United States human brucellosis is underdiagnosed and underreported. The reporting rate in some states, ie, California, has been as low as 10%." cite journal | author=Sauret JM, Vilissova N.| title=Human brucellosis.| journal=J Am Board Fam Pract.| year=2002| volume=15| issue=5| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12350062| pages=401–406] 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.Cite web|url=http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jul04/040701d.asp|title=Emerging zoonoses on the rise|accessdate=2006-12-09|year=2004|format=html] 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,Cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0612_030612_hivvirusjump.html|title=HIV Originated With Monkeys, Not Chimps, Study Finds|accessdate=2007-07-25|publisher=National Geographic News|year=2003|author=Stefan Lovgren|format=html] probably via hunting and eating but possibly via animal bite.cite journal | author=Gurtler L.| title= [SIV as a source of HIV. On the origin of human immunodeficiency viruses from non-human primates] | journal= Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz| year=2004| volume=47| issue=7| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15254823&query_hl=29&itool=pubmed_docsum| pages=680–684| doi=10.1007/s00103-004-0862-z] It only lives in primates (humans, apes and monkeys) and is not believed to survive long in other species or away from the human body and fluids. [From [http://www.phru.co.za/hivsa/pdf/support_pack/13.pdf educational material] published by the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (phru) and [http://www.hivsa.com/hivsa/ 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.)] The myth that sex with an animal can cure AIDS is false.

Other STDs

Human sexually transmitted diseases ("STDs") are not carried or transmitted by animals.

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,Cite web|url=http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/animal_bite_infections.jsp|title=Animal bite infections|accessdate=2006-12-07|publisher=healthatoz|year=2006|format=html] may be higher elsewhere), and for dogs and other large animals injury from the force of the bite. Bacterial bite infections are usually fully curable,although dog bites may cause "Pasteurella" and "Capnocytophaga canimorsus" infections,Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/5270588.stm|title=Pasteurellosis |accessdate=2006-12-06|publisher=BBC News|year=2006|format=html] cite journal | author=D J Brenner, D G Hollis, G R Fanning, and R E Weaver| title=Capnocytophaga canimorsus a cause of septicemia following dog bite| journal=J Clin Microbiol.| year=1989| volume=27| issue=2| url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=267282| pages=231–235| pmid=2915017] 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 body orifice, and equines can thrust suddenly and "flare". [Bodil Joensen commented in a 1980s [http://fakepix.com/story/bodil-interview.html 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"] In 2005, Kenneth Pinyan, a resident of WA 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).cite journal | author=Kirov GK, Losanoff JE, Kjossev KT| title=Zoophilia: a rare cause of traumatic injury to the rectum.| journal=Injury| year=2002| volume=33| issue=4| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=12091035&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_docsum| pages=367–368| doi=10.1016/S0020-1383(01)00189-9] In 1976, a 46-year-old French farmer underwent surgery for peritonitis after sex with a boar.cite journal | author=Blondel PH| title= [Digestive perforation of unusual origin. 2 cases] | journal=Nouv Presse Med.| year=1976| volume=5| issue=14| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=1083973&query_hl=30&itool=pubmed_docsum| pages=915–916]

Allergic reactions

Sensitization and allergic reactions to animal saliva and semen may occur, ranging from mild irritation to anaphylaxis.cite journal | author=Vanto T| title=Immediate sensitivity of asthmatic children to dog allergens| journal=Klin Padiatr| year=1985| volume=197| issue=4| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=4046495&itool=pubmed_docsum| pages=363–5] cite journal | author=Holden TE, Sherline DM.| title=Bestiality, with sensitization and anaphylactic reaction.| journal=Obstet Gynecol.| year=1973| volume=24| issue=1| url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=4737141&dopt=Abstract| pages=138–140] Although dried skin flakes, known as "dander", are the most commonly cited allergen, [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. [http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/pets.htm] ] dog saliva is a more potent allergen than dander. An estimated 10% of people are allergic to animals in general, rising to 20-30% amongst asthma sufferers;Cite web|url=http://www.acaai.org/public/advice/pets.htm|title=Advice from Your Allergist...Pet Allergy|accessdate=2006-12-06|publisher=American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology|year=2006|format=html] 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.

ee also

*Animal behaviour
*Zoophilia
*Sexually transmitted disease
*Dog bite
*Zoonosis

References

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External links

* [http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/Faculty/bbchomel/WHO_Zoonoses/zoonoses_species.htm UC Davis site on zoonoses by animal species] - WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center, PDF slideshows
* [http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2001/07_01/morrison.shtml Zoonotic infections from pets] - Understanding the risks and treatment
* [http://www.avma.org/reference/zoonosis/default.asp American Veterinary Medical Association] - Zoonosis updates
* [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no02/05-0783.htm Diagnosing Capnocytophaga canimorsus Infections] - CDC
* [http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5226a1.htm Nonfatal Dog Bite--Related Injuries Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments] , CDC MMWR, July 4, 2003.