Zoophilia and health
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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 transmitted from animals to humans are called zoonoses. Some zoonoses can be transferred through casual contact, while others are more readily spread through activities that expose humans to the semen, vaginal fluids, urine, saliva, fecal matter, and blood of animals. This means that sexual activity with animals can sometimes be a high-risk behavior. Practitioners of bestiality should evaluate their relative risk, as the level of risk varies by species involved, by each disease mentioned below (and others not listed), and by region of the world. Some of the more common zoonoses are listed on the National Agricultural Safety Database (NASD) and at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Brucellosis
Brucellosis in humans is a potentially life-threatening multisystem disease that can be extremely difficult to treat. There are several varieties of brucellosis, all caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. The most notable are 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 contract B. canis through contact with the bodily 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. See also Robalee Setters and/or Vet medicine
List of zoonoses
A list of zoonoses is located at:
External links
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Zoophilia_and_health ]
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