In theory, could all mammals be wiped out by a single pathogen?












5












$begingroup$


Pathogen



Note: For the purpose of this question I define a pathogen to include viruses and/or bacteria. Edit: I don't exclude other biological agents such as fungi that might have the same effect.




Pathogen



A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes
disease or illness to its host.



https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/pathogen.htm




Sometimes we hear of a potential threat to humanity from a 'killer' virus, for example bird-flu. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/what-know-about-bird-flu#1



There have been plagues that have killed vast numbers of people but none have resulted in actual extinction. https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/



HIV Aids, Bird-Flu and others have affected more than one species.



Question



In theory could a microbe arise that could completely wipe out an entire species (in particular humans) or more importantly all mammals (and maybe other species as well).



Clearly mammals have not all been wiped out so far because we are still around. My question is, could it conceivably happen given what we currently know? If not, what would prevent it?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    I would put a huge questionmark at how it would evolve. The virus would need to be dangerous to begin with, but if it kills too many people before it reaches the super-killer state it'll be edged out by a less lethal variant that keeps spreading. And with modern medicine and quarantine methods even a resistant pathogen will be having a tough time killing entire species.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Demigan - Good point. However flu and common-cold viruses for example commonly mutate. It's part of their survival strategy. One scenario could be a single disastrous mutation of flu that is immediately fatal.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Then the question becomes: what is the most optimal time to kill, while still having enough time to spread? Even if the virus can masquarade as another benign disease before it revealed itself as deadly and people can react it would need to have spread across most of the population before it starts killing or else quarantines and living remotely can stop it. I think that if it is not lethal to insects it could perhaps help as insect ratio would increase massively upon the large death tolls and spread far and wide.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK : if it's immediately fatal, it would be easy to contain. This is why Ebola never caused any major epidemics: it kills the hosts too fast to be able to spread.
    $endgroup$
    – vsz
    28 mins ago
















5












$begingroup$


Pathogen



Note: For the purpose of this question I define a pathogen to include viruses and/or bacteria. Edit: I don't exclude other biological agents such as fungi that might have the same effect.




Pathogen



A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes
disease or illness to its host.



https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/pathogen.htm




Sometimes we hear of a potential threat to humanity from a 'killer' virus, for example bird-flu. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/what-know-about-bird-flu#1



There have been plagues that have killed vast numbers of people but none have resulted in actual extinction. https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/



HIV Aids, Bird-Flu and others have affected more than one species.



Question



In theory could a microbe arise that could completely wipe out an entire species (in particular humans) or more importantly all mammals (and maybe other species as well).



Clearly mammals have not all been wiped out so far because we are still around. My question is, could it conceivably happen given what we currently know? If not, what would prevent it?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    I would put a huge questionmark at how it would evolve. The virus would need to be dangerous to begin with, but if it kills too many people before it reaches the super-killer state it'll be edged out by a less lethal variant that keeps spreading. And with modern medicine and quarantine methods even a resistant pathogen will be having a tough time killing entire species.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Demigan - Good point. However flu and common-cold viruses for example commonly mutate. It's part of their survival strategy. One scenario could be a single disastrous mutation of flu that is immediately fatal.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Then the question becomes: what is the most optimal time to kill, while still having enough time to spread? Even if the virus can masquarade as another benign disease before it revealed itself as deadly and people can react it would need to have spread across most of the population before it starts killing or else quarantines and living remotely can stop it. I think that if it is not lethal to insects it could perhaps help as insect ratio would increase massively upon the large death tolls and spread far and wide.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK : if it's immediately fatal, it would be easy to contain. This is why Ebola never caused any major epidemics: it kills the hosts too fast to be able to spread.
    $endgroup$
    – vsz
    28 mins ago














5












5








5





$begingroup$


Pathogen



Note: For the purpose of this question I define a pathogen to include viruses and/or bacteria. Edit: I don't exclude other biological agents such as fungi that might have the same effect.




Pathogen



A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes
disease or illness to its host.



https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/pathogen.htm




Sometimes we hear of a potential threat to humanity from a 'killer' virus, for example bird-flu. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/what-know-about-bird-flu#1



There have been plagues that have killed vast numbers of people but none have resulted in actual extinction. https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/



HIV Aids, Bird-Flu and others have affected more than one species.



Question



In theory could a microbe arise that could completely wipe out an entire species (in particular humans) or more importantly all mammals (and maybe other species as well).



Clearly mammals have not all been wiped out so far because we are still around. My question is, could it conceivably happen given what we currently know? If not, what would prevent it?










share|improve this question











$endgroup$




Pathogen



Note: For the purpose of this question I define a pathogen to include viruses and/or bacteria. Edit: I don't exclude other biological agents such as fungi that might have the same effect.




Pathogen



A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes
disease or illness to its host.



https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/pathogen.htm




Sometimes we hear of a potential threat to humanity from a 'killer' virus, for example bird-flu. https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/what-know-about-bird-flu#1



There have been plagues that have killed vast numbers of people but none have resulted in actual extinction. https://www.mphonline.org/worst-pandemics-in-history/



HIV Aids, Bird-Flu and others have affected more than one species.



Question



In theory could a microbe arise that could completely wipe out an entire species (in particular humans) or more importantly all mammals (and maybe other species as well).



Clearly mammals have not all been wiped out so far because we are still around. My question is, could it conceivably happen given what we currently know? If not, what would prevent it?







biology hard-science population diseases






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago







chasly from UK

















asked 3 hours ago









chasly from UKchasly from UK

13.4k459122




13.4k459122












  • $begingroup$
    I would put a huge questionmark at how it would evolve. The virus would need to be dangerous to begin with, but if it kills too many people before it reaches the super-killer state it'll be edged out by a less lethal variant that keeps spreading. And with modern medicine and quarantine methods even a resistant pathogen will be having a tough time killing entire species.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Demigan - Good point. However flu and common-cold viruses for example commonly mutate. It's part of their survival strategy. One scenario could be a single disastrous mutation of flu that is immediately fatal.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Then the question becomes: what is the most optimal time to kill, while still having enough time to spread? Even if the virus can masquarade as another benign disease before it revealed itself as deadly and people can react it would need to have spread across most of the population before it starts killing or else quarantines and living remotely can stop it. I think that if it is not lethal to insects it could perhaps help as insect ratio would increase massively upon the large death tolls and spread far and wide.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK : if it's immediately fatal, it would be easy to contain. This is why Ebola never caused any major epidemics: it kills the hosts too fast to be able to spread.
    $endgroup$
    – vsz
    28 mins ago


















  • $begingroup$
    I would put a huge questionmark at how it would evolve. The virus would need to be dangerous to begin with, but if it kills too many people before it reaches the super-killer state it'll be edged out by a less lethal variant that keeps spreading. And with modern medicine and quarantine methods even a resistant pathogen will be having a tough time killing entire species.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @Demigan - Good point. However flu and common-cold viruses for example commonly mutate. It's part of their survival strategy. One scenario could be a single disastrous mutation of flu that is immediately fatal.
    $endgroup$
    – chasly from UK
    2 hours ago






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    Then the question becomes: what is the most optimal time to kill, while still having enough time to spread? Even if the virus can masquarade as another benign disease before it revealed itself as deadly and people can react it would need to have spread across most of the population before it starts killing or else quarantines and living remotely can stop it. I think that if it is not lethal to insects it could perhaps help as insect ratio would increase massively upon the large death tolls and spread far and wide.
    $endgroup$
    – Demigan
    2 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    @chaslyfromUK : if it's immediately fatal, it would be easy to contain. This is why Ebola never caused any major epidemics: it kills the hosts too fast to be able to spread.
    $endgroup$
    – vsz
    28 mins ago
















$begingroup$
I would put a huge questionmark at how it would evolve. The virus would need to be dangerous to begin with, but if it kills too many people before it reaches the super-killer state it'll be edged out by a less lethal variant that keeps spreading. And with modern medicine and quarantine methods even a resistant pathogen will be having a tough time killing entire species.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
I would put a huge questionmark at how it would evolve. The virus would need to be dangerous to begin with, but if it kills too many people before it reaches the super-killer state it'll be edged out by a less lethal variant that keeps spreading. And with modern medicine and quarantine methods even a resistant pathogen will be having a tough time killing entire species.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
3 hours ago












$begingroup$
@Demigan - Good point. However flu and common-cold viruses for example commonly mutate. It's part of their survival strategy. One scenario could be a single disastrous mutation of flu that is immediately fatal.
$endgroup$
– chasly from UK
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
@Demigan - Good point. However flu and common-cold viruses for example commonly mutate. It's part of their survival strategy. One scenario could be a single disastrous mutation of flu that is immediately fatal.
$endgroup$
– chasly from UK
2 hours ago




2




2




$begingroup$
Then the question becomes: what is the most optimal time to kill, while still having enough time to spread? Even if the virus can masquarade as another benign disease before it revealed itself as deadly and people can react it would need to have spread across most of the population before it starts killing or else quarantines and living remotely can stop it. I think that if it is not lethal to insects it could perhaps help as insect ratio would increase massively upon the large death tolls and spread far and wide.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
Then the question becomes: what is the most optimal time to kill, while still having enough time to spread? Even if the virus can masquarade as another benign disease before it revealed itself as deadly and people can react it would need to have spread across most of the population before it starts killing or else quarantines and living remotely can stop it. I think that if it is not lethal to insects it could perhaps help as insect ratio would increase massively upon the large death tolls and spread far and wide.
$endgroup$
– Demigan
2 hours ago












$begingroup$
@chaslyfromUK : if it's immediately fatal, it would be easy to contain. This is why Ebola never caused any major epidemics: it kills the hosts too fast to be able to spread.
$endgroup$
– vsz
28 mins ago




$begingroup$
@chaslyfromUK : if it's immediately fatal, it would be easy to contain. This is why Ebola never caused any major epidemics: it kills the hosts too fast to be able to spread.
$endgroup$
– vsz
28 mins ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















7












$begingroup$

Yes, but not in the way you are thinking.



One way this could happen is if some killer fungus starts growing unchecked throghout the planet, on land and sea. By killing all plant life it would destroy every other ecossystem, so it would wipe out all mammals. It would also practically wipe out all other members of the animal kingdom. This is part of the plot of Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri.



Another way is if some methane-producing microbe starts spreading unchecked. This may have already happened:




The Permian–Triassic (P–Tr or P–T) extinction event, colloquially known as the Great Dying, the End-Permian Extinction or the Great Permian Extinction, occurred about 252 Ma (million years) ago, (...) It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct. It is the only known mass extinction of insects. Some 57% of all biological families and 83% of all genera became extinct.



(...)



Suggested mechanisms for the latter include (...) a runaway greenhouse effect triggered by sudden release of methane from the sea floor due to methane clathrate dissociation according to the clathrate gun hypothesis or methane-producing microbes known as methanogens.




And if methane won't do, bacteria may deplete the oceans of oxygen. Then:




A severe anoxic event at the end of the Permian would have allowed sulfate-reducing bacteria to thrive, causing the production of large amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the anoxic ocean. Upwelling of this water may have released massive hydrogen sulfide emissions into the atmosphere and would poison terrestrial plants and animals and severely weaken the ozone layer, exposing much of the life that remained to fatal levels of UV radiation. Indeed, biomarker evidence for anaerobic photosynthesis by Chlorobiaceae (green sulfur bacteria) from the Late-Permian into the Early Triassic indicates that hydrogen sulfide did upwell into shallow waters because these bacteria are restricted to the photic zone and use sulfide as an electron donor.







share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 4




    $begingroup$
    Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
    $endgroup$
    – jwenting
    2 hours ago



















1












$begingroup$

Yes, viruses and bacteria can infect multiple species, even not closely related. If a hypothetical pathogen, lets call it pigeon pox, mutates, and gains ability to infect some tissue or organ shared by all mammals e.g. placenta, and as a side effect it causes the death of a foetus, it can potentially wipe out all mammals in a generation. It will not be easily contained like ebola, because its main reservoir is still a pigeon. If it survives in female reproductive tracts after killing the foetus not only it is preventing any future pregnancy but may also spread among mammals directly as STI.
Pigeons will still be happily flying, coughing an sh**ting in our towns when we're gone because for them the virus only causes mild rash around cloaka.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$













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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    active

    oldest

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    active

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    7












    $begingroup$

    Yes, but not in the way you are thinking.



    One way this could happen is if some killer fungus starts growing unchecked throghout the planet, on land and sea. By killing all plant life it would destroy every other ecossystem, so it would wipe out all mammals. It would also practically wipe out all other members of the animal kingdom. This is part of the plot of Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri.



    Another way is if some methane-producing microbe starts spreading unchecked. This may have already happened:




    The Permian–Triassic (P–Tr or P–T) extinction event, colloquially known as the Great Dying, the End-Permian Extinction or the Great Permian Extinction, occurred about 252 Ma (million years) ago, (...) It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct. It is the only known mass extinction of insects. Some 57% of all biological families and 83% of all genera became extinct.



    (...)



    Suggested mechanisms for the latter include (...) a runaway greenhouse effect triggered by sudden release of methane from the sea floor due to methane clathrate dissociation according to the clathrate gun hypothesis or methane-producing microbes known as methanogens.




    And if methane won't do, bacteria may deplete the oceans of oxygen. Then:




    A severe anoxic event at the end of the Permian would have allowed sulfate-reducing bacteria to thrive, causing the production of large amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the anoxic ocean. Upwelling of this water may have released massive hydrogen sulfide emissions into the atmosphere and would poison terrestrial plants and animals and severely weaken the ozone layer, exposing much of the life that remained to fatal levels of UV radiation. Indeed, biomarker evidence for anaerobic photosynthesis by Chlorobiaceae (green sulfur bacteria) from the Late-Permian into the Early Triassic indicates that hydrogen sulfide did upwell into shallow waters because these bacteria are restricted to the photic zone and use sulfide as an electron donor.







    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 4




      $begingroup$
      Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
      $endgroup$
      – jwenting
      2 hours ago
















    7












    $begingroup$

    Yes, but not in the way you are thinking.



    One way this could happen is if some killer fungus starts growing unchecked throghout the planet, on land and sea. By killing all plant life it would destroy every other ecossystem, so it would wipe out all mammals. It would also practically wipe out all other members of the animal kingdom. This is part of the plot of Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri.



    Another way is if some methane-producing microbe starts spreading unchecked. This may have already happened:




    The Permian–Triassic (P–Tr or P–T) extinction event, colloquially known as the Great Dying, the End-Permian Extinction or the Great Permian Extinction, occurred about 252 Ma (million years) ago, (...) It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct. It is the only known mass extinction of insects. Some 57% of all biological families and 83% of all genera became extinct.



    (...)



    Suggested mechanisms for the latter include (...) a runaway greenhouse effect triggered by sudden release of methane from the sea floor due to methane clathrate dissociation according to the clathrate gun hypothesis or methane-producing microbes known as methanogens.




    And if methane won't do, bacteria may deplete the oceans of oxygen. Then:




    A severe anoxic event at the end of the Permian would have allowed sulfate-reducing bacteria to thrive, causing the production of large amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the anoxic ocean. Upwelling of this water may have released massive hydrogen sulfide emissions into the atmosphere and would poison terrestrial plants and animals and severely weaken the ozone layer, exposing much of the life that remained to fatal levels of UV radiation. Indeed, biomarker evidence for anaerobic photosynthesis by Chlorobiaceae (green sulfur bacteria) from the Late-Permian into the Early Triassic indicates that hydrogen sulfide did upwell into shallow waters because these bacteria are restricted to the photic zone and use sulfide as an electron donor.







    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$









    • 4




      $begingroup$
      Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
      $endgroup$
      – jwenting
      2 hours ago














    7












    7








    7





    $begingroup$

    Yes, but not in the way you are thinking.



    One way this could happen is if some killer fungus starts growing unchecked throghout the planet, on land and sea. By killing all plant life it would destroy every other ecossystem, so it would wipe out all mammals. It would also practically wipe out all other members of the animal kingdom. This is part of the plot of Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri.



    Another way is if some methane-producing microbe starts spreading unchecked. This may have already happened:




    The Permian–Triassic (P–Tr or P–T) extinction event, colloquially known as the Great Dying, the End-Permian Extinction or the Great Permian Extinction, occurred about 252 Ma (million years) ago, (...) It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct. It is the only known mass extinction of insects. Some 57% of all biological families and 83% of all genera became extinct.



    (...)



    Suggested mechanisms for the latter include (...) a runaway greenhouse effect triggered by sudden release of methane from the sea floor due to methane clathrate dissociation according to the clathrate gun hypothesis or methane-producing microbes known as methanogens.




    And if methane won't do, bacteria may deplete the oceans of oxygen. Then:




    A severe anoxic event at the end of the Permian would have allowed sulfate-reducing bacteria to thrive, causing the production of large amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the anoxic ocean. Upwelling of this water may have released massive hydrogen sulfide emissions into the atmosphere and would poison terrestrial plants and animals and severely weaken the ozone layer, exposing much of the life that remained to fatal levels of UV radiation. Indeed, biomarker evidence for anaerobic photosynthesis by Chlorobiaceae (green sulfur bacteria) from the Late-Permian into the Early Triassic indicates that hydrogen sulfide did upwell into shallow waters because these bacteria are restricted to the photic zone and use sulfide as an electron donor.







    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$



    Yes, but not in the way you are thinking.



    One way this could happen is if some killer fungus starts growing unchecked throghout the planet, on land and sea. By killing all plant life it would destroy every other ecossystem, so it would wipe out all mammals. It would also practically wipe out all other members of the animal kingdom. This is part of the plot of Sid Meyer's Alpha Centauri.



    Another way is if some methane-producing microbe starts spreading unchecked. This may have already happened:




    The Permian–Triassic (P–Tr or P–T) extinction event, colloquially known as the Great Dying, the End-Permian Extinction or the Great Permian Extinction, occurred about 252 Ma (million years) ago, (...) It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct. It is the only known mass extinction of insects. Some 57% of all biological families and 83% of all genera became extinct.



    (...)



    Suggested mechanisms for the latter include (...) a runaway greenhouse effect triggered by sudden release of methane from the sea floor due to methane clathrate dissociation according to the clathrate gun hypothesis or methane-producing microbes known as methanogens.




    And if methane won't do, bacteria may deplete the oceans of oxygen. Then:




    A severe anoxic event at the end of the Permian would have allowed sulfate-reducing bacteria to thrive, causing the production of large amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the anoxic ocean. Upwelling of this water may have released massive hydrogen sulfide emissions into the atmosphere and would poison terrestrial plants and animals and severely weaken the ozone layer, exposing much of the life that remained to fatal levels of UV radiation. Indeed, biomarker evidence for anaerobic photosynthesis by Chlorobiaceae (green sulfur bacteria) from the Late-Permian into the Early Triassic indicates that hydrogen sulfide did upwell into shallow waters because these bacteria are restricted to the photic zone and use sulfide as an electron donor.








    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 2 hours ago









    RenanRenan

    45.5k11105228




    45.5k11105228








    • 4




      $begingroup$
      Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
      $endgroup$
      – jwenting
      2 hours ago














    • 4




      $begingroup$
      Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
      $endgroup$
      – jwenting
      2 hours ago








    4




    4




    $begingroup$
    Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
    $endgroup$
    – jwenting
    2 hours ago




    $begingroup$
    Another example is the development of photo synthesis in early life on earth. This caused the release of massive quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, killing off almost every older creature as those were incapable of handling the now extremely toxic and corrosive environment that those proto plants had created for themselves.
    $endgroup$
    – jwenting
    2 hours ago











    1












    $begingroup$

    Yes, viruses and bacteria can infect multiple species, even not closely related. If a hypothetical pathogen, lets call it pigeon pox, mutates, and gains ability to infect some tissue or organ shared by all mammals e.g. placenta, and as a side effect it causes the death of a foetus, it can potentially wipe out all mammals in a generation. It will not be easily contained like ebola, because its main reservoir is still a pigeon. If it survives in female reproductive tracts after killing the foetus not only it is preventing any future pregnancy but may also spread among mammals directly as STI.
    Pigeons will still be happily flying, coughing an sh**ting in our towns when we're gone because for them the virus only causes mild rash around cloaka.






    share|improve this answer









    $endgroup$


















      1












      $begingroup$

      Yes, viruses and bacteria can infect multiple species, even not closely related. If a hypothetical pathogen, lets call it pigeon pox, mutates, and gains ability to infect some tissue or organ shared by all mammals e.g. placenta, and as a side effect it causes the death of a foetus, it can potentially wipe out all mammals in a generation. It will not be easily contained like ebola, because its main reservoir is still a pigeon. If it survives in female reproductive tracts after killing the foetus not only it is preventing any future pregnancy but may also spread among mammals directly as STI.
      Pigeons will still be happily flying, coughing an sh**ting in our towns when we're gone because for them the virus only causes mild rash around cloaka.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$
















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        1





        $begingroup$

        Yes, viruses and bacteria can infect multiple species, even not closely related. If a hypothetical pathogen, lets call it pigeon pox, mutates, and gains ability to infect some tissue or organ shared by all mammals e.g. placenta, and as a side effect it causes the death of a foetus, it can potentially wipe out all mammals in a generation. It will not be easily contained like ebola, because its main reservoir is still a pigeon. If it survives in female reproductive tracts after killing the foetus not only it is preventing any future pregnancy but may also spread among mammals directly as STI.
        Pigeons will still be happily flying, coughing an sh**ting in our towns when we're gone because for them the virus only causes mild rash around cloaka.






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$



        Yes, viruses and bacteria can infect multiple species, even not closely related. If a hypothetical pathogen, lets call it pigeon pox, mutates, and gains ability to infect some tissue or organ shared by all mammals e.g. placenta, and as a side effect it causes the death of a foetus, it can potentially wipe out all mammals in a generation. It will not be easily contained like ebola, because its main reservoir is still a pigeon. If it survives in female reproductive tracts after killing the foetus not only it is preventing any future pregnancy but may also spread among mammals directly as STI.
        Pigeons will still be happily flying, coughing an sh**ting in our towns when we're gone because for them the virus only causes mild rash around cloaka.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 10 mins ago









        Milo BemMilo Bem

        1,243112




        1,243112






























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