3 ms·

Reminder: the biggest source of new diseases is animal farming. Especially in countries that allow massive use of antibiotics. (like the US)

pvaldes 4y ago
> Reminder: the biggest source of new diseases is animal farming. Especially in countries that allow massive use of antibiotics. Reminder, this is obviously false. Animal trade, human travel and commerce, alien species, exotic pets, exotic wildfood ... are much, much, much worse. The only animal diseases that we had studied seriously and extensively are: 1) Human diseases 2) Diseases of pets. Canine and feline diseases 3) Diseases of human food. Poultry and cattle, and some fishes. We farm since 3000 years or so and have spent huge resources into researching each disease of cattle. Anything hidden in cattle that could affect human has affected us since 1000 years ago and is definitely not new. A farm would be the last place to look for a lot of new diseases.
f6v 4y ago
> the biggest source of new diseases is animal farming. There was a study(I don’t have a link handy) on microbiota in Neanderthal dental plaque. You’d be surprised, but pathogens existed even before farming.
- goodpoint 4y ago
  > You’d be surprised, but pathogens existed even before farming. Yet if you look at recent papers from microbiologists and virologists you'll find that the field experts are very concerned at the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant pathogens linked to the widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming. There is a whole field of research on the topic, not just a paper or two, and they've been sounding the alarm for almost a decade. But of course, leave it to the HNers to handwave the whole problem away. EDIT: the FDA is "well aware" and still has some of the most lax regulations amongst developed countries since decades...
  - nradov 4y ago
    The FDA is well aware of antibiotic resistance due to overuse in livestock and is taking steps to mitigate the issue. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/antimicrobial-resistance https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/antimicr...
  - f6v 4y ago
    Yes, but is it the “biggest” sort of antibiotic resistance?

pvaldes 4y ago

> Reminder: the biggest source of new diseases is animal farming. Especially in countries that allow massive use of antibiotics. Reminder, this is obviously false. Animal trade, human travel and commerce, alien species, exotic pets, exotic wildfood ... are much, much, much worse. The only animal diseases that we had studied seriously and extensively are: 1) Human diseases 2) Diseases of pets. Canine and feline diseases 3) Diseases of human food. Poultry and cattle, and some fishes. We farm since 3000 years or so and have spent huge resources into researching each disease of cattle. Anything hidden in cattle that could affect human has affected us since 1000 years ago and is definitely not new. A farm would be the last place to look for a lot of new diseases.

f6v 4y ago

> the biggest source of new diseases is animal farming. There was a study(I don’t have a link handy) on microbiota in Neanderthal dental plaque. You’d be surprised, but pathogens existed even before farming.

goodpoint 4y ago
> You’d be surprised, but pathogens existed even before farming. Yet if you look at recent papers from microbiologists and virologists you'll find that the field experts are very concerned at the rapid evolution of antibiotic resistant pathogens linked to the widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming. There is a whole field of research on the topic, not just a paper or two, and they've been sounding the alarm for almost a decade. But of course, leave it to the HNers to handwave the whole problem away. EDIT: the FDA is "well aware" and still has some of the most lax regulations amongst developed countries since decades...
- nradov 4y ago
  The FDA is well aware of antibiotic resistance due to overuse in livestock and is taking steps to mitigate the issue. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/antimicrobial-resistance https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/antimicr...
- f6v 4y ago
  Yes, but is it the “biggest” sort of antibiotic resistance?