Stone age diseases and modern AIDS.
The great advantage of being a sexually transmitted disease is the ability to survive and specialize solely on a host species that is present in low numbers and widely distributed so that contact between infected and uninfected organisms by chance is rare. Pathogens of a sparse, but widely distributed host species, must either: i) have an alternative host; ii) be able to survive in a dormant state; or iii) be non-destructive to their host. For the pathogens of a diploid there is a particularly effective strategy, that of being sexually transmitted. Then the hosts' themselves transfer the pathogen.
Koch
Arthur L
AL
Biology Department, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405-6801, USA. koch@indiana.edu
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D000818:Animals; D023082:Defensins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor / Q000276:immunology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission
D023082:Defensins; D053481:Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor