Emerging zoonoses: crossing the species barrier

Area of Science:

• Zoonotic disease emergence
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• One Health

Background:

• Zoonotic diseases, such as AIDS and influenza, have emerged and spread globally.
• Emerging threats include filoviruses, paramyxoviruses (Hendra, Nipah), and novel transmissible spongiform encephalopathies like bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
• Increased human-animal contact drives the emergence and rise of bacterial zoonoses like plague and leptospirosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the increasing threat of zoonotic diseases.
• To underscore the poor understanding of factors influencing cross-species pathogen transmission.
• To identify underlying themes contributing to disease emergence.

Main Methods:

• Review of emerging infectious disease cases.
• Analysis of factors contributing to zoonotic disease spread.
• Identification of common themes in disease emergence.

Main Results:

• New viral zoonoses (e.g., AIDS, novel influenza strains) have become established.
• Animal viruses (filoviruses, paramyxoviruses) increasingly infect humans.
• Bacterial zoonoses are rising due to increased human-animal proximity.

Conclusions:

• The emergence and spread of infectious diseases are linked to human population growth, mobility, and food production.
• Factors influencing pathogen transmission across species barriers require further investigation.
• A comprehensive understanding of these factors is essential for effective disease prevention and control.