• Question: Can animals be immune to all diseases?

    Asked by to Bethany, Hannah, Keith, Peter on 26 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Bethany Dearlove

      Bethany Dearlove answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      I’ve not heard of any animals that are immune to all diseases. There’s a myth that sharks are immune to disease and cancer, though it’s not true – sharks get diseases and parasites just like us. One of the reasons they are probably thought to be completely immune, is that they produce squalamine – a chemical that seems to be really good at fending off bacteria and viruses.

    • Photo: Peter Elliott

      Peter Elliott answered on 26 Jun 2014:

      Unlikely, even if you vaccinated them against all know infectious diseases it may not stop a genetic disease from killing them.

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