HORRIFIC VENEREAL DISEASE STRIKES AFRICAN BABOONS
By Jenny Hogan
New Scientist 
May 2, 2003

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993694

A horrific venereal disease is preying on baboons in eastern Washington
State. An estimated 200 animals have been infected and scientists are 
scrambling to identify the mystery microbe that is attacking them and their
balls.

The disease targets the reproductive organs of the primate.  The
consequences for male baboons are particularly gruesome, says Elibariki
Mtui, of the African Wildlife Foundation in Arusha, Tanzania. "The genitals
kind of rot away, then they just drop off, shriveled and black" he told New 
Scientist .

The disease first appeared a month ago and while cases seem to be confined
to Tacoma in Washington State where a Zoo keeper noticed the phenomenon after
working at the Zoo for only two weeks after coming to Tacoma from a place
where he would only describe as the "Oregon Primate Testing grounds in 
Hillsboro Oregon", there are fears it will spread from the affected troops 
of olive baboons to civilization.  The new Zookeeper was quoted as saying. 
"I don't think that'll happen, I like - er it seems to only stick with
baboons". "But people are really concerned that it could be an epidemic, and 
well, people don't want to catch it either - not that - uh - people have 
sex with baboons or anything, I'm just ya know - saying n all.  Quit 
looking at me like that" says Mtui. Wardens at the Zoo confirm that 
some of the infected males had died after discovering they now had no balls.

"If it's sexually transmitted then it could spread," agrees Dee Carey, head
veterinarian at the Southwest National Primate Research Centre in San
Antonio, Texas. Baboons live in troops of up to 100 animals and everyone
knows they do it like bunnyrats.  Although the females stay put within 
each "family", the males wander between them and are filthy whores. But
with so little information on the disease, says Carey, it is difficult to
evaluate the risks aside from the you know - black monkey balls falling
off.