Disease in which dogs are eaten? - briefly
There is no known disease where eating dogs is part of the treatment or prevention protocol. The act of consuming dog meat is not medically recommended and is often associated with cultural practices rather than health benefits.
Disease in which dogs are eaten? - in detail
Kuru, also known as the laughing death or shaking disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has been observed among the Fore people of Papua New Guinea. The disease is particularly notable for its association with cannibalism, specifically the practice of consuming human brain tissue.
The Fore people traditionally practiced mortuary cannibalism, where the brains and other parts of deceased relatives were consumed as a sign of respect and to honor their memory. This practice inadvertently led to the transmission of prions, which are misfolded proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Kuru.
Kuru primarily affects women and children due to cultural practices where they were more likely to consume brain tissue during funeral rituals. Symptoms of Kuru typically appear several years after exposure to infected brain tissue and include tremors, loss of coordination, difficulty walking, and eventually dementia and paralysis. The disease is always fatal, with death occurring within a few years of the onset of symptoms.
The epidemiology of Kuru has been extensively studied by medical anthropologists and researchers. Through detailed investigations, it was established that the consumption of human brain tissue during mortuary cannibalism rituals led to the transmission of prions responsible for Kuru. This discovery has significantly contributed to our understanding of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), a group of diseases that also includes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) in cattle.
The recognition of the link between cannibalism and Kuru has led to the cessation of the practice among the Fore people, which has resulted in a significant decline in new cases of the disease. However, those who were exposed prior to the change in cultural practices continue to develop symptoms, underscoring the long incubation period of prion diseases.
In conclusion, Kuru is a tragic example of how cultural practices can unwittingly lead to the transmission of fatal neurodegenerative disorders. The study of Kuru has not only advanced our understanding of prion diseases but also highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in public health interventions.