Animals self medicate- link

[Greywings]

http://www.greyforums.net/forums/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=20

 

 

 

Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed April 11, 2013 It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to a University of Michigan ecologist and his colleagues. Ads by Google Go Digging For Dinosaurs - Alberta, Canada is Home to Some of the World's Richest Fossil Beds. - TravelAlberta.us/Dinosaur Animals use medications to treat various ailments through both learned and innate behaviors. The fact that moths, ants and fruit flies are now known to self-medicate has profound implications for the ecology and evolution of animal hosts and their parasites, according to Mark Hunter, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and at the School of Natural Resources and Environment. In addition, because plants remain the most promising source of future pharmaceuticals, studies of animal medication may lead the way in discovering new drugs to relieve human suffering, Hunter and two colleagues wrote in a review article titled "Self-Medication in Animals," to be published online today in the journal Science. "When we watch animals foraging for food in nature, we now have to ask, are they visiting the grocery store or are they visiting the pharmacy?" Hunter said. "We can learn a lot about how to treat parasites and disease by watching other animals." Much of the work in this field has focused on cases in which animals, such as baboons and woolly bear caterpillars, medicate themselves. One recent study has suggested that house sparrows and finches add high-nicotine cigarette butts to their nests to reduce mite infestations. But less attention has been given to the many cases in which animals medicate their offspring or other kin, according to Hunter and his colleagues. Wood ants incorporate an antimicrobial resin from conifer trees into their nests, preventing microbial growth in the colony. Parasite-infected monarch butterflies protect their offspring against high levels of parasite growth by laying their eggs on anti-parasitic milkweed. Ads by Google Glamour Magazine Videos - Watch new Beauty, Fashion, and Fun Videos Inspired by the magazine. - www.youtube.com/GlamourMag Hunter and his colleagues suggest that researchers in the field should "de-emphasize the 'self' in self-medication" and base their studies on a more inclusive framework. "Perhaps the biggest surprise for us was that animals like fruit flies and butterflies can choose food for their offspring that minimizes the impacts of disease in the next generation," Hunter said. "There are strong parallels with the emerging field of epigenetics in humans, where we now understand that dietary choices made by parents influence the long-term health of their children." The authors argue that animal medication has several major consequences on the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions. For one, when animal medication reduces the health of parasites, there should be observable effects on parasite transmission or virulence. For example, when gypsy moth caterpillars consume foliage high in certain toxic compounds, transmission of viruses between the caterpillars is reduced, facilitating moth outbreaks. In addition, animal medication should affect the evolution of animal immune systems, according to Hunter and his colleagues. Honeybees are known to incorporate antimicrobial resins into their nests. Analysis of the honeybee genome suggests that they lack many of the immune-system genes of other insects, raising the possibility that honeybees' use of medicine has been partly responsible—or has compensated—for a loss of other immune mechanisms. The authors also note that the study of animal medication will have direct relevance for human food production. Disease problems in agricultural organisms can worsen when humans interfere with the ability of animals to medicate, they point out. For example, increases in parasitism and disease in honeybees can be linked to selection by beekeepers for reduced resin deposition by their bees. A reintroduction of such behavior in managed bee colonies would likely have great benefits for disease management, the authors say. More information: "Self-Medication in Animals," by J.C. de Roode, Science, 2013. Journal reference: Science search and more info website Provided by University of Michigan search and more info website

 

 

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-04-self-medication-animals-widespread-believed.html#jCp

Edited April 12, 2013 by Greywings
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[danmcq]

What an interesting read. Humans for centuries before us self-medicated as well using plants, tree's herbs etc. Much of that knowledge has been lost unfortunately. But, there are still some tribes through out the earth that still have this knowledge and use it in their lives to maintain good health. I truly wish scientists would seek out and document all that is left before that knowledge expires as those tribes slowly disappear over time as new-age takes over this earth and loses knowledge that is eons old and priceless in my opinion.

[Greywings]

We do have Science working on just that here in the USA, Asia, Africa and South America. Just google the topic. Glad they are getting some of this historic medical knowledge, may help many people as we discover more.

[jaui000]

I totally agreed with you and also your link because a lot knowledge is in the link which i have no idea nice collection of the data about the medication of the animals..How can i introduce the medical experienced with you?