PubHawk
PLoS One August 2022 PMID 35947590

History of fecal transplantation; camel feces contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no traditional role in the treatment of dysentery.

Nienke Koopman, Pim van Leeuwen, Stanley Brul, Jurgen Seppen

Full text PDF Download social card

Mentions

32
Peak: 13 in Jul 2025
across 4 sources since Aug 2022

Extended reach

196,154
potential audience

Total likes

116

Video views

1,824

Mentions per month

Aug 2022 – Jul 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter22 posts
  • YouTube5 videos
  • Blogs3 articles
  • News2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions predominantly highlight that the story about camel feces was based on limited and indirect evidence, with references to primary sources being scant or unsubstantiated. Words like 'myth,' 'debunked,' and 'no real proof' indicate a tone of correction and clarification, reinforcing the importance of scientific scrutiny in evaluating historical claims.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions acknowledge that the historical story about camel feces being used for dysentery is a myth dismantled by scientific evidence.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show mild interest, mainly focusing on debunking the myth rather than exploring new implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

The conversations include referencing original studies and clarifying the lack of credible evidence, indicating moderate analytical engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

While the main impact is correcting misconceptions, the discussions subtly emphasize the importance of scientific validation in historical claims.

Abstract in brief

  • The story that German soldiers used camel feces containing Bacillus subtilis to treat dysentery during World War 2 is based on limited and indirect evidence, with no strong historical or scientific support.
  • Scientific analysis showed that camel feces contain only small amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores, similar to levels found in soil and human feces, suggesting they are unlikely to have therapeutic effects.
  • Overall, there is no credible evidence that camel feces was traditionally used for dysentery treatment, and it should not be considered part of the history of fecal transplantation.]
Read the full abstract

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
SEM
@SEMicrobiologia · X

Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx https://t.co/5p8r7CwmgJ

Jul 25, 2025 · 15 likes · 10 shares · 22,288 followers View post →
Akos T. Kovacs
@EvolvedBiofilm · X

History of fecal transplantation; camel feces contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no traditional role in the treatment of dysentery https://t.co/rbomtI7Y8o

Aug 11, 2022 · 9 likes · 5 shares · 20,992 followers View post →
Smut Clyde, X-Ray Haruspex
@SmutClyde · X

Bad news for anyone looking for an excuse to eat camel dung: It "contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no traditional role in the treatment of dysentery". https://t.co/XwozdAXnWx https://t.co/LiZOuzdFEN

Aug 12, 2022 · 8 likes · 1 share · 2,484 followers View post →
Ahmed
@maudi_ahmed · X

@MohmdBio @aymaqnas على طاري الابل والعرب يقال انه من هنا بدات قصة FMT بزراعة براز الابل لعلاج الدوسنتاريا وتم نقل الفكره واختبارها في الحرب العالمية الثانية بواسطة الجنود الالمان في شمال افريقيا https://t.co/BLzlhe6hTJ

Dec 4, 2022 · 7 likes · 3,744 followers View post →
Oscar Jiménez
@oscarjortega · X

@ivanfamil Interesante, pero parece que esa "historia" nació en una revisión del año 2001 escrita por Ralph A. Lewin y titulada “More on Merde”, y no hay fuentes anteriores a esa publicación que hable sobre el tema. https://t.co/T2MtPypEDJ

Jul 24, 2025 · 4 likes · 45 followers View post →
Akos T. Kovacs
@EvolvedBiofilm · X

@aagw @HeidiArjes @STCmicrobeblog It turned out to be a potentially made up story on the above blog, no actual proof about any of those WW2-related events. See also here: https://t.co/rbomtI7Y8o

Feb 6, 2023 · 2 likes · 20,992 followers View post →

All mentions

Punkyfer
@biopunky · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 30, 2025 · 10 shares · 186 followers View post →
cmmmlg
@cmmmlg · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 30, 2025 · 10 shares · 969 followers View post →
RarasNoInvisibles
@NoInvisibles · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 30, 2025 · 10 shares · 54,861 followers View post →
J.A.Hernán
@JAHernan13 · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 29, 2025 · 10 shares · 941 followers View post →
Sombradoble
@sombradoble · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 29, 2025 · 10 shares · 11,797 followers View post →
Eduardo G-Junceda
@EduardoGJR · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 26, 2025 · 10 shares · 2,164 followers View post →
Alaa
@alaa_etm99 · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 25, 2025 · 10 shares · 356 followers View post →
Manuel Sánchez
@ManoloSanchezA · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 25, 2025 · 10 shares · 1,729 followers View post →
Pablo Castillo
@PabloC4st1ll0 · X

RT @SEMicrobiologia: Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx

Jul 25, 2025 · 10 shares · 1,213 followers View post →
SEM
@SEMicrobiologia · X

Lo sentimos, pero es un mito desmontado ya hace unos años en este artículo. https://t.co/QXZ0RLcDJx https://t.co/5p8r7CwmgJ

Jul 25, 2025 · 15 likes · 10 shares · 22,288 followers View post →
Manuel Sánchez
@ManoloSanchezA · X

Aquí el enlace al estudio original en PLOS One https://t.co/EJku7QGZm4

Jul 25, 2025 · 1,729 followers View post →
Manuel Sánchez
@ManoloSanchezA · X

@ivanfamil Y aquí tiene el enlace al estudio original publicado en PLOS One https://t.co/EJku7QGZm4

Jul 25, 2025 · 1 like · 1,729 followers View post →
Oscar Jiménez
@oscarjortega · X

@ivanfamil Interesante, pero parece que esa "historia" nació en una revisión del año 2001 escrita por Ralph A. Lewin y titulada “More on Merde”, y no hay fuentes anteriores a esa publicación que hable sobre el tema. https://t.co/T2MtPypEDJ

Jul 24, 2025 · 4 likes · 45 followers View post →
Akos T. Kovacs
@EvolvedBiofilm · X

@aagw @HeidiArjes @STCmicrobeblog It turned out to be a potentially made up story on the above blog, no actual proof about any of those WW2-related events. See also here: https://t.co/rbomtI7Y8o

Feb 6, 2023 · 2 likes · 20,992 followers View post →
Ahmed
@maudi_ahmed · X

@MohmdBio @aymaqnas على طاري الابل والعرب يقال انه من هنا بدات قصة FMT بزراعة براز الابل لعلاج الدوسنتاريا وتم نقل الفكره واختبارها في الحرب العالمية الثانية بواسطة الجنود الالمان في شمال افريقيا https://t.co/BLzlhe6hTJ

Dec 4, 2022 · 7 likes · 3,744 followers View post →
Apoyo mutuo en el sector científico
@CienciaxPueblo · X

RT @SmutClyde: Bad news for anyone looking for an excuse to eat camel dung: It "contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and li…

Aug 13, 2022 · 1 share · 5,485 followers View post →
Smut Clyde, X-Ray Haruspex
@SmutClyde · X

Bad news for anyone looking for an excuse to eat camel dung: It "contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no traditional role in the treatment of dysentery". https://t.co/XwozdAXnWx https://t.co/LiZOuzdFEN

Aug 12, 2022 · 8 likes · 1 share · 2,484 followers View post →
John M Hancock
@JohnMHancock · X

RT @EvolvedBiofilm: History of fecal transplantation; camel feces contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no tr…

Aug 11, 2022 · 5 shares · 1,134 followers View post →
Mick W@tson ↙️
@BioMickWatson · X

RT @EvolvedBiofilm: History of fecal transplantation; camel feces contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no tr…

Aug 11, 2022 · 5 shares · 28,969 followers View post →
Dr. Amanda Warr
@Amandatron89 · X

RT @EvolvedBiofilm: History of fecal transplantation; camel feces contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no tr…

Aug 11, 2022 · 5 shares · 2,900 followers View post →
Matthew Dalby
@MatthewJDalby · X

"A literature analysis shows that all references to the story are based on a single review paper that mentions the use of camel feces in passing and only provides indirect evidence for this claim." A worthy reference hunt here. Via @EvolvedBiofilm https://t.co/9HZvOzFmS4

Aug 11, 2022 · 1 like · 7,381 followers View post →
Akos T. Kovacs
@EvolvedBiofilm · X

History of fecal transplantation; camel feces contains limited amounts of Bacillus subtilis spores and likely has no traditional role in the treatment of dysentery https://t.co/rbomtI7Y8o

Aug 11, 2022 · 9 likes · 5 shares · 20,992 followers View post →