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At 04:26 PM 8/23/96 -0500, Art Raiche <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
>Suppose that somewhere on this earth there exists a group of people who have a
>wheat or oats based diet but where pesticides and herbicides are never used.
> Does such a place exist and if so, does it have the same percentage of
>celiacs?
 
A place does not exist. Problem is the gluten grains are a product of
hybridization and agribusiness. Also gluten grains need a cool climate. The
less developed countries are in hot areas where the indigenous grains are GF.
 
> Is the disease well enough known such that demographic studies have
>been done on its distribution?
 
Enough is known that it isn't in the parts of that don't consume gluten.
Without gluten consumption you can't have celiac disease.
 
>Does the disease exist in other animals?
 
I have heard of it in dogs. There was a Canadian study where they fed cats
gluten and found neurological problems. But cats are carnivores.
 
Don Wiss.