Coprophagy

Coprophagy is the consumption of feces, from the Greek κόπρος copros, "feces" and φαγεῖν phagein, "to eat". It refers to many kinds of feces-eating, including animals eating the feces of other species (heterospecifics), of other individuals (allocoprophagy), or its own (autocoprophagy), those once deposited or taken directly from the anus.

Overview

In humans, coprophagy has been observed in individuals with mental illness. Some animal species eat feces as a normal behavior; other species may not normally consume feces but do so under unusual conditions.

In animals

Coprophagy is common among mammals and is found in species including rabbits, rodents, gorillas, and dogs. In these species, there are nutritional benefits to coprophagy. For example, rabbits primarily eat their own feces to recover nutrients not absorbed during the first passage through the gut, as well as the microbial population in the gut, which aids in digestion.

In humans

In humans, coprophagy has been observed in individuals with mental illness, such as those with schizophrenia or pica. However, it is not a common behavior and is often associated with severe behavioral problems.

Health risks

The consumption of feces carries the risk of contracting diseases and consuming harmful parasites, especially when human feces are eaten by other humans. Diseases and parasites like E. coli, tapeworm, and hepatitis can be spread through this behavior.

See also

• Coprophilous fungi
• Dung beetle
• Rat
• Elephant

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