-Sexually transmitted mites that gnaw on flesh, viruses that act as deadly aphrodisiacs, and parasites that lead to genital swelling — these aren't plot twists in a bad epidemic disaster movie. These infections are very real, and entirely repugnant; they just tend to infect animals of the non-human variety.
Animals do, in fact, get sexually transmitted infections. They don't get as much press as antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea, but they're still devastating — and entirely worth your time.
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Chlamydia threatens koala populations
Chlamydia is a serious problem for Australia's koalas. It affects males and females alike, and can be transmitted to baby koalas — called joeys — through suckling. Infected koalas develop conjunctivitis, urinary infections, and incontinence. Some also become blind. And because it causes infertility in half the females it infects, researchers think it's one of the main drivers of koala population decline.
There is some hope, however. Researchers announced last year that a vaccine was showing some pretty promising results. In a medical trial that included 60 koalas — half of which received the vaccine — none of the vaccinated animals developed the infection
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