This document provides an overview of zoonotic infections, which are diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. It discusses the definition and importance of zoonoses, as well as their etiologic classification into viral, bacterial, parasitic and mycotic categories. Examples of common zoonotic diseases are provided for different animal species. The routes of transmission and life cycles of zoonoses are described. Risk factors for zoonotic infection and reportable zoonotic diseases in California are also summarized.
Pictures of DaVinci horses from www2.truman.edu/ ~capter/jins343/vinc.htm Wing picture taken from www.geocities.com/ CollegePark/8265/gall4.htm
Many definitions of zoonosis, for the class the WHO definition will be used. Historically zoonoses only referred to animal disease; however, the current use for disease and infections transmitted between animals and man. The term commonly is used to refer to the more specific and scientific terms of zooanthroponoses and anthropozoonoses
Also does not include disease where invertebrates are part of the transmission cycle such as malaria.
60-80% of all disease are zoonotic and 75% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic. 60% of US household have at least one pet and of those with pets 60% have more than 1.( Results of the AVMA survey on companion animal ownership in US pet-owning households. J. Karl Wise, PhD, CAE, Director; Brent L. Heathcott, CAE, Assistant Director; Martin L. Gonzalez, MS, Research Analyst.)
drawn picture from www.inhs.uiuc.edu/dnr/ fur/addition/addskunk.html
This is the natural transmission cycle from Mosquitos to Bird and birds to mosquitos. With “spill over” or incidental host being humans and other animals. This last year WNV has had other mechanisms of transmission including infection of mosquitoes by other vertebrates besides birds. In the past there has been transmission of WNV by tick but there has been no indication of this in the US yet.