Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum”
Abstract For over 200 years, the name molluscum contagiosum—a dermatological disease—has unfairly associated molluscs (the second largest group of animals on the planet) with this highly contagious infectious disease. Herein, arguments are presented demonstrating the serious problem of continuing to...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-024-00586-4 |
| _version_ | 1797266597064212480 |
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| author | Fabrizio M. Machado Rodrigo B. Salvador |
| author_facet | Fabrizio M. Machado Rodrigo B. Salvador |
| author_sort | Fabrizio M. Machado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract For over 200 years, the name molluscum contagiosum—a dermatological disease—has unfairly associated molluscs (the second largest group of animals on the planet) with this highly contagious infectious disease. Herein, arguments are presented demonstrating the serious problem of continuing to use this name, including animal welfare concerns. Thus, to minimize any unnecessary impacts on the biodiversity and conservation of molluscs, we follow WHO best practices in naming diseases to suggest the use of the new term ‘wpox’ or ‘water warts’ as a synonym for molluscum contagiosum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e1febe8295414f0b9e9a6ad07af2f2a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1349-4147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:03:13Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1febe8295414f0b9e9a6ad07af2f2a92024-03-10T12:22:33ZengBMCTropical Medicine and Health1349-41472024-03-015211310.1186/s41182-024-00586-4Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum”Fabrizio M. Machado0Rodrigo B. Salvador1Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de CampinasThe Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT-The Arctic University of NorwayAbstract For over 200 years, the name molluscum contagiosum—a dermatological disease—has unfairly associated molluscs (the second largest group of animals on the planet) with this highly contagious infectious disease. Herein, arguments are presented demonstrating the serious problem of continuing to use this name, including animal welfare concerns. Thus, to minimize any unnecessary impacts on the biodiversity and conservation of molluscs, we follow WHO best practices in naming diseases to suggest the use of the new term ‘wpox’ or ‘water warts’ as a synonym for molluscum contagiosum.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-024-00586-4Water wartsVerrugas de águaPoxviridaeMolluscaAnimal welfare |
| spellingShingle | Fabrizio M. Machado Rodrigo B. Salvador Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum” Tropical Medicine and Health Water warts Verrugas de água Poxviridae Mollusca Animal welfare |
| title | Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum” |
| title_full | Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum” |
| title_fullStr | Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum” |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum” |
| title_short | Why avoid naming diseases after animals? The case of “Molluscum contagiosum” |
| title_sort | why avoid naming diseases after animals the case of molluscum contagiosum |
| topic | Water warts Verrugas de água Poxviridae Mollusca Animal welfare |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-024-00586-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fabriziommachado whyavoidnamingdiseasesafteranimalsthecaseofmolluscumcontagiosum AT rodrigobsalvador whyavoidnamingdiseasesafteranimalsthecaseofmolluscumcontagiosum |