Will a macaque eat a grape sitting on a pile of poo? A study on germaphobia
A study of macaques in a Texas sanctuary suggests that animals may exhibit 'germophobic' behaviors similar to humans following disease outbreaks. Researchers observed that monkeys who witnessed a viral outbreak were more cautious about potential contamination.
Why it matters
This research provides insights into the evolutionary and behavioral responses to pathogens across different species.
In the very early days of COVID-19, millions who'd rarely thought twice about germ avoidance became germophobes.
Some folks wiped down groceries before stuffing them into the refrigerator. Others let mail quarantine outside for days lest it harbor stray viruses. With the hindsight that SARS-CoV-2 spread primarily through the air, these sorts of precautions seem extreme. But in the moment, they were perhaps reasonable ways of avoiding an unknown pathogen.
Around this same time, a different virus hit a macaque sanctuary in Texas. New research suggests the monkeys responded in similar ways as humans did to COVID-19 — by being extra germophobic.
Humans are far from the only animals to avoid possible sources of disease. Scientists have found that critters as diverse as monkeys and nematodes (aka roundworms) can sense and steer clear of feces, for instance, which can harbor harmful bacteria.
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