5 ms·

It's thought to be closely related to a virus that monkeys have - earliest known human infection was back in 1959. Here's what's generally known about it: http

It's thought to be closely related to a virus that monkeys have - earliest known human infection was back in 1959. Here's what's generally known about it: https://www.theaidsinstitute.org/education/aids-101/where-did-hiv-come-0 https://www.theaidsinstitute.org/education/aids-101/where-di...

MuffinFlavored 7y ago
Is that to say, a human had sex with a monkey, acquired the disease, then spread it by having sex with other humans?
- klipt 7y ago
  More likely bushmeat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmeat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmeat Someone had a cut on their hand while butchering a monkey. No sex necessary.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    Either that or the consumption itself. Not rare at all to have a wound in your mouth.
    - seppin 7y ago
      saliva would most likely kill it
      - pvaldes 7y ago
        There is a normal genetic variation on the saliva composition among humans. Some humans have no amylase activity in saliva just by genetical lottery for example Lets suppose hypothetically than saliva would inactivate this virus in humans. Most probably there would be still some humans without this defense mechanism. And they would be totally normal humans otherwise, indistinguisable than other people unless tested chemically that just would produce a saliva with low antimicrobial activity (and could allow the disease to jump to other people).
      - jacquesm 7y ago
        That's a chance I would not take. You just might win that particular lottery.
        shdon 7y ago
        Indeed. People have been known to get infected that way, including one I know personally. It is rare, but not unheard of. Unrelated, but interesting: the infection rate of HIV even when having unprotected sex with somebody who is not at undetectable levels is quite low. The HIV doctor I spoke with said that it was on the order of 1 to 5 %.
        jacquesm 7y ago
        Per instance or over a longer period of exposure?
        seppin 7y ago
        > Unrelated, but interesting: the infection rate of HIV even when having unprotected sex with somebody who is not at undetectable levels is quite low. The HIV doctor I spoke with said that it was on the order of 1 to 5 %. Male to female is more common, female to male less so. Both are rare. Using a condom makes the odds in the millions.
  - flukus 7y ago
    That's the common theory, but it's not like sex with other primates or even more distant relatives is unheard of (warning graphic and tragic): https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7829159/the-horrifying-story-of-a-prostitute-orangutan-who-was-chained-to-a-bed-shaved-daily-and-forced-to-perform-sex-acts-on-men-twice-her-size/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7829159/the-horrifying-story-o...
    - nelblu 7y ago
      Ugh. This upsets me so much, humans are the worst of the animal kingdom :(
    - n0rbwah 7y ago
      Ah, The Sun. Such a reputable source, they wouldn't ever make up outrageous stories just to sell more papers.
      - barry-cotter 7y ago
        > For instance, a study by Dr. Hani Miletski surveyed 93 zoophiles (82 males and 11 females). Only 12% of her sample said they engaged in sex with animals because there were no human partners available, and only 7% said it was because they were too shy to have sex with humans. For the females, the main reasons for having sex with animals was because they were sexually attracted to the animal (100%), had love and affection for the animal (67%) and/or because they said the animal wanted sex with them (67%). Most of Miletski’s sample preferred sex with dogs (87% males; 100% females) and/or horses (81% males; 73% females). Only 8% of males wanted to stop having sex with animals and none of the females. Unlike case study reports of zoophilia published prior to 2000, the studies published over the last 15 years using non-clinical samples report the vast majority of zoophiles do not appear to be suffering any significant clinical significant distress or impairment as a consequence of their behaviour. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/why-would-anyone-want-to-have-sex-with-an-animal-the-psychology-of-bestiality-10201158.html?amp https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/why-would-...

MuffinFlavored 7y ago

Is that to say, a human had sex with a monkey, acquired the disease, then spread it by having sex with other humans?

klipt 7y ago
More likely bushmeat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmeat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmeat Someone had a cut on their hand while butchering a monkey. No sex necessary.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  Either that or the consumption itself. Not rare at all to have a wound in your mouth.
  - seppin 7y ago
    saliva would most likely kill it
    - pvaldes 7y ago
      There is a normal genetic variation on the saliva composition among humans. Some humans have no amylase activity in saliva just by genetical lottery for example Lets suppose hypothetically than saliva would inactivate this virus in humans. Most probably there would be still some humans without this defense mechanism. And they would be totally normal humans otherwise, indistinguisable than other people unless tested chemically that just would produce a saliva with low antimicrobial activity (and could allow the disease to jump to other people).
    - jacquesm 7y ago
      That's a chance I would not take. You just might win that particular lottery.
      - shdon 7y ago
        Indeed. People have been known to get infected that way, including one I know personally. It is rare, but not unheard of. Unrelated, but interesting: the infection rate of HIV even when having unprotected sex with somebody who is not at undetectable levels is quite low. The HIV doctor I spoke with said that it was on the order of 1 to 5 %.
        jacquesm 7y ago
        Per instance or over a longer period of exposure?
        seppin 7y ago
        > Unrelated, but interesting: the infection rate of HIV even when having unprotected sex with somebody who is not at undetectable levels is quite low. The HIV doctor I spoke with said that it was on the order of 1 to 5 %. Male to female is more common, female to male less so. Both are rare. Using a condom makes the odds in the millions.
- flukus 7y ago
  That's the common theory, but it's not like sex with other primates or even more distant relatives is unheard of (warning graphic and tragic): https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7829159/the-horrifying-story-of-a-prostitute-orangutan-who-was-chained-to-a-bed-shaved-daily-and-forced-to-perform-sex-acts-on-men-twice-her-size/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/7829159/the-horrifying-story-o...
  - nelblu 7y ago
    Ugh. This upsets me so much, humans are the worst of the animal kingdom :(
  - n0rbwah 7y ago
    Ah, The Sun. Such a reputable source, they wouldn't ever make up outrageous stories just to sell more papers.
    - barry-cotter 7y ago
      > For instance, a study by Dr. Hani Miletski surveyed 93 zoophiles (82 males and 11 females). Only 12% of her sample said they engaged in sex with animals because there were no human partners available, and only 7% said it was because they were too shy to have sex with humans. For the females, the main reasons for having sex with animals was because they were sexually attracted to the animal (100%), had love and affection for the animal (67%) and/or because they said the animal wanted sex with them (67%). Most of Miletski’s sample preferred sex with dogs (87% males; 100% females) and/or horses (81% males; 73% females). Only 8% of males wanted to stop having sex with animals and none of the females. Unlike case study reports of zoophilia published prior to 2000, the studies published over the last 15 years using non-clinical samples report the vast majority of zoophiles do not appear to be suffering any significant clinical significant distress or impairment as a consequence of their behaviour. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/why-would-anyone-want-to-have-sex-with-an-animal-the-psychology-of-bestiality-10201158.html?amp https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/why-would-...