Let ’s talk about sex — with our patients

I recently read a book by Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz a UCLA cardiologist who also happens to be a consultant for the Los Angeles Zoo. In her book Zoobiquity, Dr. Natterson-Horowitz demystified the story of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) transmission from monkeys in West and Central Africa to humans. Most physicians today, including me, have a limited knowledge of zoonosis (the science surrounding bugs that can be from animals to humans) and can be totally unaware of the extent to which we share pathogens with our animal neighbors. After reading about rabbit syphilis, Chlamydia in koalas in Australia which almost threatened to totally wipe out these small cuddly marsupials and trichomoniasis in T. rex, I could say nothing but agree that SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus) from the chimpanzees to humans was not that fantastic a tale after all. If trichomonas has moved through the different species from as far back as the time of the dinosaurs to now infect both pigs and cats, what stops SIV from expanding its real estate empire to include humans? We, after all, are the most dominant species on earth. As such, we are a very attractive real estate acquisition for any bug. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs