From: san023@elmers.cycoop.com (Dr. Phillip Dwyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Date: 20 April 1996
Subject: Search for "mollusca" futile?

   We're busy wondering why it's taking so long to find the organism
   responsible for mollusca infections but maybe when we test people known
   to have been infected we're looking in the wrong place.

   There are two symptom-complexes associated with mollusca -- the
   initial "clam" bumps and possible fever and swollen lymph glands,
   and the increased sexual desire, activity and promiscuity.

   My theory is that this disease follows the following script:

	* Infection, probably sexually-transmitted, occurs.
	* The organism responsible is latent for an unknown time.
	* The latency period ends and the organism becomes active,
		* Stimulating the body's immune system,
		* Causing the "clam" bumps and signs of infection,
		* And permanently damaging some part of the nervous
		  or endocrine system in such a way as to increase
		  the sexual activity of the person infected.
	* The organism takes advantage of these behavioral changes to
	  spread to new hosts.
	* The host immune system destroys the organism.

   That's why we're not finding it anywhere.  We don't get our test samples
   from people until after the organism has done its work and been destroyed.

   -- Phil