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AIDS-Like Virus New Threat To Koala

Posted by timothy on from the poor-fellas dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A virus that may weaken the immune system of koalas, similar to HIV in humans, is a new 'wild card' among threats facing the species and nearly all koalas in the Australian state of Queensland could already be infected."

2 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why? by religious+freak · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Actually, I recall a video (possibly TED vid, too lazy to look up) which discussed the method by which AIDS likely was first transmitted into humans. It was hypothesized to have actually been transmitted via hunter/gatherers carrying their bloody prey on their backs. Because their backs had abrasions from chasing their future food through trees and growth the infected animal blood was mixed with human blood and voila... AIDS came to humans.

    Let's just hope there aren't too many bloodied aboriginals hunting koalas :)

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  2. Relax, koala-lovers by srussia · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The only HIV-like aspect of the virus is that it is a retrovirus. It may even be harmless. BTW, does anyone have data on the prevalence of non-HIV retroviruses in humans?

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