Emerging infections in animals--potential new zoonoses?

Area of Science:

• One Health research
• Zoonotic disease epidemiology
• Comparative pathology

Background:

• Emerging infectious diseases in humans are frequently zoonotic in origin.
• The ecological and social drivers of emerging diseases impact both human and animal populations.
• Animal disease emergence often serves as a precursor to human outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the critical, often overlooked, link between animal and human disease emergence.
• To emphasize the role of animal disease as a bridge for zoonotic pathogen transmission.
• To underscore the interconnectedness of animal and human health in the context of emerging diseases.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological data on zoonotic diseases.
• Analysis of case studies of recent emerging infectious diseases.
• Literature synthesis on pathogen emergence in animal populations.

Main Results:

• Emerging human diseases are consistently preceded by the emergence of the same pathogen in animal populations.
• Animal disease outbreaks act as a crucial intermediary, facilitating human disease establishment.
• Specific examples like Rift Valley fever, monkeypox, Nipah, and Ebola demonstrate this pattern.

Conclusions:

• The emergence of zoonotic pathogens in animal reservoirs is a critical early warning for potential human epidemics.
• Understanding and monitoring animal health is paramount for effective human public health surveillance and intervention.
• The increasing interconnectedness of global ecosystems necessitates a One Health approach to mitigate emerging disease risks.