Are platypuses affected by a disease?

Answer 1

Tasmanian platypuses were first observed to be subject to platypus fungal disease, or Mucormycosis in 1982. This fungal disease causes ugly skin lesions or ulcers to develop on various parts of the platypus's body, including their backs, tails and legs. These lesions become quite large, and are ultimately fatal. Death comes from secondary infection, and from the fact that the platypus's ability to maintain body temperature and forage efficiently for food is affected. It's not yet known how the disease spreads from platypus to platypus, but the mainland creatures are not affected.

Answer 2

Not from HIV, which stands for human immunodeficiency virus, and as you might guess from the name, really only affects humans.

There a distinct but similar virus called FIV (feline...) that causes an AIDS-like condition in cats. It's at least theoretically possible there could be a platypus version of the virus, though I've never heard of one.

Currently, there is no AIDS-like disease among platypuses. The only contagious disease to which they are subject is platypus fungal disease, or Mucormycosis, first discovered in 1982.

This fungal disease, currently known only in Tasmanian platypuses, causes ugly skin lesions or ulcers to develop on various parts of the platypus's body, including their backs, tails and legs. These lesions become quite large, and are ultimately fatal. Death comes from secondary infection, and from the fact that the platypus's ability to maintain body temperature and forage efficiently for food is affected. It's not yet known how the disease spreads from platypus to platypus, but the mainland creatures are not affected.

Answer 3

Platypuses are generally free from diseases. However, Tasmanian platypuses have begun suffering from platypus fungal disease, or Mucormycosis which was first observed in 1982. This fungal disease causes ugly skin lesions or ulcers to develop on various parts of the platypus's body, including their backs, tails and legs. These lesions become quite large, and are ultimately fatal. Death comes from secondary infection, and from the fact that the platypus's ability to maintain body temperature and forage efficiently for food is affected. It's not yet known how the disease spreads from platypus to platypus, but the mainland creatures are not affected.