Animals have been great companions to humans since ancient times. People across the globe love to domesticate animals. While millions of households in the world have one or many pets, even otherwise we meet animals during travel, at someone's home, or visiting a rural setting. Mostly considered safe, occasionally animals can be host to harmful germs that they may pass on to their human friends and cause illness. Such infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans are known as zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. Zoonotic diseases spread through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi causing many illnesses ranging from mild to serious illnesses.
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What Causes Zoonotic Diseases?

Zoonotic diseases are caused by various factors. Majorly it involves the transmission of pathogens between animals and humans which could be due to the following causes:

  • Direct contact with bodily fluids of infected animals
  • Consumption of contaminated animal products such as unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat
  • Exposure to contaminated water, soil, or marshy areas
  • Bites from infected mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas

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Numerous types of zoonotic diseases have been identified that can infect humans. Some of the commonly found zoonotic diseases are:

Rabies: It is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, usually dogs or bats.

Lyme disease: Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks and is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi.

Bird flu: Primarily transmitted from birds to humans, especially through direct contact with infected poultry.

Ebola Virus Disease: A fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans, it is transmitted from wild animals and then spreads through human-to-human contact.

Zika Virus Infection:  A deadly infection primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes species.

Brucellosis: Brucellosis also known as Malta fever, is contracted by the consumption of unpasteurized milk, butter, cheese, and other dairy products.

Leptospirosis: Caused by the Leptospira bacteria, this disease occurs by exposure to soil or contaminated water with infected animal urine 

Q Fever: Q fever is transmitted to humans through inhalation of barnyard dust contaminated with the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, commonly found in infected cattle, sheep, and goats.

Salmonellosis: Caused by the Salmonella bacteria, this disease infects humans when they consume contaminated eggs, poultry, and dairy products.

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Symptoms

The symptoms of zoonotic diseases can vary, but some common symptoms that may be observed in all individuals infected with zoonotic diseases are:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Pneumonia
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Skin rashes or lesions
  • Muscle aches and severe headache
  • Sore throat, cough, and congestion
  • Swollen lymph nodes

Diagnosis

Zoonotic diseases can be diagnosed through medical history where the healthcare provider looks for symptoms, checks recent travel, exposure to animals, or possible contact with potential sources of infection. A thorough physical examination is also done besides laboratory tests that play a crucial role in identification. Blood samples are analyzed to detect the presence of specific antibodies, or antigens. Samples of stool or urine may be examined to identify parasites, bacteria, or other pathogens. In some cases, imaging techniques, such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans are used to visualize any structural or functional abnormalities caused by infection. Serological tests may be done to measure the presence of antibodies in the blood.

Treatment

Treatment for zoonotic diseases depends on the involved pathogen. In general, the following are the main treatment options for all zoonotic diseases:

  • Antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal medications may be prescribed to eliminate the main causative pathogen
  • In cases where vaccines are available, immunization can prevent the severity of fatal zoonotic diseases, such as rabies or influenza
  • For diseases transmitted by vectors like mosquitoes or ticks, control measures involve insecticides, bed nets, and sprays
  • Education and public health interventions that emphasize hygiene practices, safe food handling, and avoiding contact with potentially infected animals
  • Isolating infected individuals or putting them in quarantine to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases to other humans