What is zoonoses
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Zoonoses
Definition
Zoonoses (singular: zoonosis) are diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man. This is the classic definition from the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee (1967). The WHO records more than 150 diseases and infections of animals that are communicable to humans.
- Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, p. 890
Types / Classification by Direction of Transmission
| Term | Direction | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropozoonoses | Animal → Human | Rabies, plague, hydatid disease, anthrax, trichinosis |
| Zooanthroponoses | Human → Animal | Human tuberculosis transmitted to cattle |
| Amphixenoses | Either direction (maintained in both) | Trypanosoma cruzi, Schistosoma japonicum |
- Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, p. 106
Classification by Causative Agent
A. Bacterial Infections
| Disease | Animal Reservoir |
|---|---|
| Anthrax | Herbivores, pigs |
| Brucellosis | Cattle, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, dogs, horses |
| Ornithosis (Psittacosis) | Wild and domestic birds |
| Q Fever | Cattle, sheep, goats, wild animals |
| Leptospirosis | Rodents, mammals |
| Tuberculosis | Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, cats, dogs |
| Plague | Rodents |
B. Viral Infections
- Rabies, Influenza, Japanese encephalitis, Rift Valley fever, Monkeypox, Kyasanur Forest disease, Lassa fever
C. Protozoan Infections
| Disease | Animal Reservoir |
|---|---|
| Leishmaniasis | Dogs, cats, swine |
| Toxoplasmosis | Cats, mammals, birds |
| Trypanosomiasis | Game animals, cattle |
| Babesiosis | Cattle |
D. Helminthic (Worm) Infections
| Disease | Animal Reservoir |
|---|---|
| Echinococcosis (Hydatid) | Dogs, wild carnivores |
| Taeniasis | Cattle |
| Schistosomiasis | Rodents |
| Trichinellosis | Swine, rodents, marine mammals |
| Clonorchiasis | Dogs, cats, fish |
Zoonoses can also be caused by rickettsia, fungi, and arthropods/insects.
Epidemiological Terms
- Enzootic: a zoonotic disease that is constantly present in an animal population in a region (analogous to endemic in humans)
- Epizootic: an outbreak of disease in an animal population (analogous to epidemic) - notable examples include anthrax, brucellosis, rabies, influenza, Q fever, and Japanese encephalitis
Control of Zoonoses
Control involves a three-pronged strategy:
- Control in animals - diagnosis, treatment, destruction of infected animals, quarantine, and immunization of animals
- Control of transmission vehicles - food hygiene, ensuring safety of animal products (wool, hides, horn, bones), proper disposal of carcasses and waste, disinfection
- Prevention and treatment in humans - immunization and chemoprophylaxis for high-risk groups, occupational health monitoring, early diagnosis and treatment, health education, and improved diagnostic facilities
Public Health Significance
- Animals serve as reservoir hosts for many pathogens
- Zoonoses represent a significant share of all emerging infectious diseases globally
- Close contact between humans and animals (livestock, pets, wildlife) facilitates transmission
- The WHO Veterinary Public Health programme and FAO actively coordinate global zoonosis surveillance
Sources: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, pp. 890, 106; Goldman-Cecil Medicine; WHO/FAO Expert Committee definitions
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