[Emerging diseases and species barrier: the risk of equine herpesvirus 9]

Jumping the species barrier is responsible for a large part of emerging and re-emerging diseases around the world; however, the mechanisms involved in restricting an agent to a given host are currently not fully understood, nor what is necessary to leap the species barrier to invade a new host. These leaps to new species are usually manifest by high rates of morbidity and mortality in the new species, leading to severe economic losses and sometimes causing loss of human life. On the other hand, exotic species both in homes and zoos have become one of the major risk factors for the emergence and re-emergence of disease in human and animal populations and it has thus become necessary to assess infections which may be able to make the so-called 'jump' and have serious consequences for human and animal populations. This article seeks to raise awareness regarding the risk of a leap over the species barrier using the equine herpesvirus-9 as an example and its possible implications.