The Hygiene Hypothesis states that when children lack
early exposure to infectious agents, parasites, and symbiotic microorganisms like normal gut flora such as would naturally occur in a rural or farm environment, they are much more likely to suffer from autoimmune disorders such as allergies or asthma.
It is possible that ingesting nasal detritus might help build a healthy immune response — after all, researchers investigating the hygiene hypothesis have built a large body of evidence indicating that lack
of exposure to infectious agents can increase one's susceptibility to allergic diseases.
The idea that
exposure to infectious agents may decrease the risk of allergy was first introduced in 1989v.
FIV - infected cats should be spayed / neutered and should be confined indoors to prevent spread of FIV infection to other cats in the neighborhood and to reduce
their exposure to infectious agents carried by other animals.
The keep to keeping ourselves and our pets safe from illness is to use good sanitary habits, eat healthful foods, and minimize
exposure to infectious agents that could have long term consequences.
An immune - suppressed cat can increase an immune - suppressed human's
exposure to infectious agents and vice versa.
Sexually mature, intact dogs may face a greater risk of parvo than their neutered counterparts because un-neutered dogs tend to roam, increasing
their exposure to infectious agents.