Caption: Researchers observe animals’ reactions to different excrements. Top left: Japanese macaques displaying human-like reactions. Top right: Adélie penguin avoiding white-splash (parasites, pathogens). Bottom left: Red-eared slider with black-pellet aversion. Bottom right: Slow loris, resembling macaques but smaller. Credit: KyotoU/Jake Tobiyama
Table of Contents
Introduction
In the quest to understand animal behavior, scientists have long focused on fear and predator evasion while overlooking the fascinating field of disease avoidance. Unlike humans who can recognize warning signs, animals rely on an innate defensive mechanism called disgust to protect themselves from harmful diseases. But does this defensive strategy exist across different animal species? A team of international scientists has embarked on a study to explore disgust and its associated disease-avoidance behaviors in various animals, taking into account their social systems, habitats, and sensory environments.
Identifying Disease Avoidance Strategies
The team, led by Cécile Sarabian, a former JSPS postdoctoral fellow at Kyoto University, has identified over 30 species that exhibit disease avoidance strategies in the wild. In addition, they propose investigating seven overlooked species that could serve as new models for studying disease avoidance behaviors.
Considering Ecological Niches and Social Systems
To understand the intricacies of disgust and its impact on disease avoidance, the team takes into account the specific ecological niches, sensory environments, and social systems of different species. For example, the native common octopus and the invasive red-eared slider, both relevant to Japan, are among the species being studied. Andrew MacIntosh, an associate professor at Kyoto University Wildlife Research Center, highlights that the costs and benefits associated with experiencing disgust and avoiding illness depend on the social system and ecology of each species.
The Role of Disgust
Disgust is triggered by sensory cues associated with disease risk, such as the sight of diarrhea, prompting animals to exhibit behavioral or physiological responses that help them avoid parasites, pathogens, and toxins. However, the levels of disgust behavior vary across species, influenced by their social systems and ecological niches. Group-living species, which have more social interactions and higher disease transmission risks, are better adapted to recognize and evade life-threatening dangers compared to solitary species.
Community Immunity Strategies
Certain species, such as rabbits and penguins living in colonies, tolerate diseased mates as part of a community immunity strategy that ensures the survival of the entire colony. This highlights the importance of social dynamics in disease avoidance strategies.
Implications for Human Health
Understanding the role of disgust and disease avoidance in animals has significant implications for human health. Lessons learned from animal behavior can be applied to studying the Covid-19 pandemic. For instance, models that incorporate social distancing predict a flattened curve of positive cases compared to exponential growth without such measures.
Promoting Research and Conservation
Beyond fundamental research, the authors stress the importance of creating a comprehensive database that gathers evidence of disease avoidance in animals. Such knowledge can be utilized to develop effective conservation and wildlife management strategies.
Reference: “Disgust in animals and the application of disease avoidance to wildlife management and conservation” by Cécile Sarabian et al., Journal of Animal Ecology, 13 March 2023, DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13903
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about animal disease avoidance
What is the focus of the research mentioned in this text?
The research focuses on studying disgust and its associated disease-avoidance behaviors in various animal species, taking into account their social systems, habitats, and sensory environments.
How do animals exhibit disease avoidance?
Animals exhibit disease avoidance through sensory cues associated with disease risk, triggering behaviors and physiological responses that help them avoid parasites, pathogens, and toxins.
How do social systems and ecological niches impact disease avoidance?
The levels of disgust behavior and disease avoidance vary across species depending on their social systems and ecological niches. Group-living species, with higher disease transmission risks, are better adapted to recognize and evade life-threatening dangers compared to solitary species.
What are the implications of this research for human health?
Understanding animal disease avoidance has significant implications for human health. Lessons learned from animal behavior, such as the role of social distancing in controlling disease spread, can be applied to studying and managing human pandemics like Covid-19.
Why is it important to study disease avoidance in animals?
Studying disease avoidance in animals helps us understand the strategies they employ to stay healthy. This knowledge can be applied to wildlife management and conservation efforts, contributing to the development of effective strategies for protecting animal populations and their habitats.
More about animal disease avoidance
- Journal of Animal Ecology: Disgust in animals and the application of disease avoidance to wildlife management and conservation
