Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Veterinary aspects of ecological monitoring: the natural history of emerging infectious diseases of humans, domestic animals and wildlife.
- Journal:
- Tropical animal health and production
- Year:
- 2009
- Authors:
- Woodford, Michael H
- Affiliation:
- mhwoodford@gmail.com
Plain-English summary
This research discusses how diseases that can affect humans, pets, farm animals, and wildlife are becoming more common and pose a risk to our environment and the variety of species living in it. When livestock and wild animals are close to people, they can easily spread infections. The growth of large-scale farming, especially of poultry, and the illegal trade of animals and their products are major factors in the rise of new diseases that can jump between species. Additionally, as cities grow and become crowded, people often rely on hunting local wildlife for food, which can lead to the spread of harmful diseases. The authors emphasize the need for veterinarians and other scientists to work together and understand the ecology of these diseases to better manage and prevent outbreaks.
Abstract
Proliferation of disease pathogens capable of affecting humans, domestic livestock and wildlife increasingly threatens environmental security and biodiversity. Livestock and wild animals in proximity to human beings are often in the chain of transmission and infection. Globalization of industrial livestock production (especially poultry upon which so much of the burgeoning human population depends) often permits transcontinental disease spread. Rapidly expanding (and often illegal) international trade in wild and domestic animals and their products are increasingly involved in the emergence of new diseases that may have the ability to transmit among humans, livestock and wildlife. Rapidly increasing urbanization has led in many places to overcrowded townships that rely on "bushmeat" for sustenance and has contributed to the emergence of virulent zoonotic pathogens. The emergence and proliferation of pathogens are exacerbated by anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes in order to increase agricultural and livestock production. This paper posits that data gathered by veterinary ecologists should be interpreted and used by other disciplines. The importance of a thorough knowledge of the "natural history" (ecology) of the disease agent and its human, domestic and wild hosts is stressed.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19020986/