A review on emerging parasitic and viral zoonotic diseases in India: Mitigating strategies and one health approach

Abstract

There are many new human pathogens that have emerged or re-emerged worldwide from animals. The emergence of zoonotic diseases is associated with a range of underlying causal factors, and represents a global threat to human and animal health. As human societies continue to develop, the pathogens from animal hosts have continued to spill over into our population. The increasing close contact between animals and humans in both work and living environments creates hotspots in peri-urban areas. From past few years, there have been increase in demand of usable land, leading to an increase in the human/wildlife interactions. Defining and prioritizing research on zoonotic pathogens in wildlife is essential, particularly in a multidisciplinary one-world one-health approach. A close collaboration is needed between animal keepers, farmers, veterinarians and other health professionals, including epidemiologists, specialists in environmental control and laboratory personnel.