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Review
. 2020 Sep 12;8(9):1405.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8091405.

Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Impact, and Control

Affiliations
Review

Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Impact, and Control

Md Tanvir Rahman et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

Most humans are in contact with animals in a way or another. A zoonotic disease is a disease or infection that can be transmitted naturally from vertebrate animals to humans or from humans to vertebrate animals. More than 60% of human pathogens are zoonotic in origin. This includes a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites, and other pathogens. Factors such as climate change, urbanization, animal migration and trade, travel and tourism, vector biology, anthropogenic factors, and natural factors have greatly influenced the emergence, re-emergence, distribution, and patterns of zoonoses. As time goes on, there are more emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases. In this review, we reviewed the etiology of major zoonotic diseases, their impact on human health, and control measures for better management. We also highlighted COVID-19, a newly emerging zoonotic disease of likely bat origin that has affected millions of humans along with devastating global consequences. The implementation of One Health measures is highly recommended for the effective prevention and control of possible zoonosis.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; animal; bacteria; fungi; one health; pathogens; prevention; viruses; zoonosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The involvement of the wild animals in the transmission and amplification of etiological agents of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses (modified with permission from [150]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Zoonotic features of SARS-CoV-2 (modified with permission from [200]).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Basic features of neglected zoonotic diseases (reproduced with permission from [202]).

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