ZOONOSIS- HOW TO COMBAT ZOONOSIS?

 The strategy to classify, affect, and control diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Humans, animals, and the environment play an important role in the development and transfer of diseases arising from different types of germs. Many pathogen-caused diseases in humans are also found in animals. According to the World Health Organization, zoonotic diseases refer to a disease that transmits from humans to animals or from animals to humans. There are 13 major diseases transmitted from animals to humans in developing countries of the world, which affect farmers in different ways. These diseases make four billion people sick annually and kill 2.7 million people, while also reducing animal production.

Classification of diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Diseases transmitted from animals to humans are caused by a variety of pathogens. Because of their etiology, these diseases are classified into many categories.  At first level, there are diseases transmitted from animals to humans that are caused by a variety of bacteria (e.g. anthrax, salmonella, TB, brucellosis). In the second level, there are diseases transmitted from animals to humans that are caused by a variety of viruses (rabies, ebola, avian influenza), in the third grade, diseases caused by a variety of parasites (trichomonosis, toxoplasmosis, tremattodosis, malaria, echinococosis). The fourth is disease that arise from ringworm.

Diseases transmitted from domestic animals to humans

Domestic animals play an important role in transmitting diseases to humans. Cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, horses, and cats have a variety of pathogens that can be transmitted to humans and cause various diseases. These diseases are transmitted to humans in different ways. Some diseases are transmitted by touching animals, while there are some diseases whose pathogens are released into the air by animals, and when humans breathe in that air, the disease is transmitted. However, there are some diseases that are transmitted by animal bites. The diseases transmitted from animals to humans include anthrax, salmonella, TB, brucellosis, rabies, ebola, avian influenza, tricogenesis, toxoplasmosis, trematodosis, malaria, and echinococosis, which are of greater importance.

Anthrax is very important among diseases transmitted from animals to humans. The pathogen of this disease survive for a very long time in the soil and are prone to spreading the disease. This disease is transmitted to humans when humans and animals such as sheep, goats, and cows are kept in one place. In addition, the disease can be transmitted from one person to another. Globally, about 2,000 to 20,000 people are affected by the disease each year. The mortality rate from this disease ranges from 25 to 65% in countries whose economies depend on agriculture, where the disease is causing a lot of losses.

The other major disease which is transmitted from animals to humans is known as tuberculosis or TB. It is the cause of a great decline in animal production. This disease is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis. The disease can be spread to humans through animal cough, and it can also be passed through animal milk if it is not boiled and utilized. Many people working with animals, such as veterinary doctors, butchers, and others, are very prone to disease from the affected animal, so every effort should be made to prevent the disease.

Brucellosis is one of the most common disease transmitted from animals to humans, affecting roughly 500,000 people worldwide each year. This disease is caused by Brucella bacteria. The disease can be transmitted to humans by contaminated air and un-boiled animal. In addition, animals are aborted, lameness is prevalent, and milk produced by the animals decreases. The condition affects those who work on dairy farms, veterinary professionals, and other workers. This poses a greater risk, so brucellosis should be tested on the farm, and the affected animals should be separated.

Rabies, also known as bawala pan, is another important disease spread by animals to humans. Rabies kills 20,000 to 70,000 individuals per year throughout the world. The germs that cause this disease are more common and are found in cats, and from these animals it is transmitted to humans. In developing countries, the disease is also transmitted by dog bites. The appearance of the disease in humans depends on the place where the affected animal has bitten. The obvious signs of the disease are that the animal affected by it is very afraid of water.

Diseases transmitted from pets and birds to humans

The risk of diseases being transmitted from pets to humans has considerably increased as a result of human-pet friendship. About 14 to 62% of people keep their pets in their bedrooms, which has increased the risk of these animals transmitting diseases to humans. More serious infections include Brucellosis, Campylobacteriosis, Rabies, Influenza, Q-fever, Hookworm, Salmonellosis, and Toxoplasmosis.  Nowadays, the practice of keeping birds of different species in homes has also become very popular. These birds, including gravel parrots, Australian parrots, and other different birds, transmit various diseases to humans. Avian chlamydiosis, avian influenza, and salmonellosis are more important in diseases transmitted from birds to humans.

Effects of diseases transmitted from animals to humans

Although it is a difficult task to assess the effects of disease transmitted from animals to humans, we can generally see the number of people affected by the disease and its effects due to problems arising from the disease. Diseases transmitted from animals to humans have serious consequences for humans, such as causing people to perform their regular jobs incorrectly. It is a major problem, especially in developing countries. There are some diseases in which a person has to be separated from other human beings. In such a situation, these diseases also cause mental illness. If animals die from diseases transmitted from animals to humans, they have a very negative effect on livestock farmers, and if these animals are only affected by the disease and do not die, they greatly reduce production, so that the farmer faces a lot of problems economically. Production decreases by a percentage. The loss in human milk supply, the reduction in meat supply, and the reduction in wool and egg supply all reflect this decline. Similarly, some disorders render animals sterile indefinitely, preventing them from having calves in the future. This significantly reduces the profits of dairy farms. Some diseases, such as anthrax and avian influenza, cannot be transferred from one country to another, thus causing various problems in global trade. Due to the mad cow disease in animals, there has been a great decline in animal trade globally, as a result of which many countries have suffered economically. There are some diseases that are very prominent in developing countries, such as the problems of declining production from animals suffering from the disease of brucellosis.

Ways to control diseases transmitted from animals to humans

 Since the diseases transmitted from animals to humans are interrelated among man, animals and the environment, we need a multidimensional approach to control these diseases. Surveillance is of great importance in controlling such diseases. With the help of surveillance, we can detect the disease at the beginning, so the infected humans and animals can be thoroughly researched, and with the help of surveillance, we can take various steps to control the disease in time. Surveillance is critical in various regions around the world since diseases carried from animals to humans are prevalent everywhere. The best labs and more manpower are required for a successful surveillance program. To control diseases transmitted from animals to humans, we can conduct the four surveillance activities listed below:

• Pathogen surveillance, which indicates the disease-causing pathogens

• Serological surveillance, in which pathogens are checked in blood samples of humans and animals

• Syndrome surveillance, this procedure collects records of humans and animals suffering from disease and then concludes with the help of this record

• Risk surveillance, which examines various factors that cause disease.

To control these diseases, we can also use various other methods, such as providing treatment to affected animals, vaccination of healthy animals, reducing animal movement in various places, and removing affected animals from the herd. The disposal of animals affected by the disease can also control various diseases. In the case of diseases that are transmitted by touching the affected animal, the items used by the animal should be handled carefully.

There are some diseases that affect animals more than once. We must adopt a comprehensive strategy to control such diseases that can affect us more often. There are some diseases transmitted from animals to humans that we can completely eradicate with a comprehensive strategy, but there are many problems in developing countries with eradicating them. To prevent diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, we must implement a One Health strategy in which medical doctors, veterinary doctors, and other health professionals collaborate to solve these problems.

We also have to make various laws to control diseases transmitted from animals to humans and implement them strictly, as when animals are brought from another country to our country, first they should be kept in a protective place for a period of time and tests should be conducted on various diseases found in them. We can also control these problems because of the vaccination program, creating awareness among individuals so that they are aware that these diseases are transmitted to humans and cause various problems.

For more guidance and consultancy feel free to reach out to me. I'd be happy to assist you.

Dr. Javaria Waheed

D.V.M  (RVMP)  Ph.D. (Animal Nutrition) 

javaria106@gmail.com