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Germophobe Primates Want to Avoid Getting Sick, Too
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- A study found that Japanese macaques became more cautious about food that appeared contaminated after experiencing a deadly disease outbreak, indicating learned disease avoidance behavior.
- This behavior, termed a behavioral immune system, suggests primates can socially learn to avoid potential sources of infection based on experience.
- The research was conducted following an H.I.V.-like virus outbreak at a South Texas macaque sanctuary in early 2020, which severely affected three of the four groups.
- During the experiment, macaques were given food placed on a clean surface and food placed on a board covered in macaque feces (sealed to remove odor and infection risk) to test their avoidance behavior.
- Results demonstrated that macaques who witnessed illness in others showed increased avoidance of the feces-contaminated food, highlighting social learning in disease prevention.
