Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that are naturally transmitted between humans and animals. They can be transmitted by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. Bacteria are chiefly responsible for propagating bacterial zoonoses.
Some of them can cause serious diseases in people while others will not show any symptom. Since zoonotic diseases amount to over 200, diagnosis is important to identify the specific disease to ensure administration of correct treatment.
Other people who come into contact with materials that are easily contaminated by the animal products such as soil and water also have a higher risk of infections. Farmers, anglers, sewage treatment workers, and veterinary officers must take extra care and use the personal protective gear while executing their duties.
Some of them can cause serious diseases in people while others will not show any symptom. Since zoonotic diseases amount to over 200, diagnosis is important to identify the specific disease to ensure administration of correct treatment.
Effects of zoonotic diseases in animals and humans
Some affect man and animals and can cause severe disease, even death e.g. anthrax. Others have little effect in animals but cause severe effects in man e.g. Q-fever and brucellosis. Others can cause severe disease in animals but almost invisible effects in man e.g. Newcastle and FMDTransmission to man
Transmission majorly occurs during the clinical stage of the disease. The risk increases when the host animal is a career i.e. does not show symptoms. Everybody is at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases. However, those who directly deal with animals and animal products are at an increased risk.Other people who come into contact with materials that are easily contaminated by the animal products such as soil and water also have a higher risk of infections. Farmers, anglers, sewage treatment workers, and veterinary officers must take extra care and use the personal protective gear while executing their duties.
Classification of zoonotic diseases
We classify zoonotic diseases according to the degree of host specificity. They include:- Arthropozoonosis – diseases transmitted from animals to man.
- Zooarthropozoonosis – transmitted from man to animals.
- Ampixenosis – transmitted either way (from man to animals and vice versa).
Classification according to the mode of transmission
a) Direct zoonosis
These are transmissions perpetrated from one host to the other by either direct or indirect contact. These include diseases/infections like rabies.
b) Cyclozoonosis
These diseases require an intermediate vertebrate host between man and animals e.g. taeniasis
c) Metazoonosis
These diseases require an intermediate invertebrate host so that they become transmitters e.g. yellow fever and rift valley fever
d) Saprozoonosis
Part of the developmental cycle of the disease-causing agent require inanimate reservoir to complete the metamorphosis e.g. hystaplasmosis and most fungal infections.
Classification according to causative agent
Here, there are either bacterial or viral zoonoses. Bacterial zoonoses are as a result of a bacterial infection while viruses cause viral zoonoses.Controlling zoonotic diseases
- Mass education in handling of infected animals is usually the most effective control measure. The public should be enlightened to minimize contact with animals and animal products and to use protective gear while handling animals, their products and byproducts.
- There should be strict rodent and vector control
- Public health officials should properly check meat meant for public consumption
- Proper cooking of all animal products especially meat from unfamiliar sources
- In the processing industry, there should be strict processing and hygiene procedures
- Avoid animal diseases at all costs