Zoonosis
Virology · Epidemiology · Public Health
Say it: zoh-uh-NOH-sis
A zoonosis is an infectious disease that passes between animals and people, caused by a virus, bacterium, parasite or fungus carried by animals.
Also: zoonoses, zoonotic disease
Definition
What is a zoonosis?
A zoonosis is an infection that can pass naturally from other vertebrate animals to humans. The germs involved include viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi, and the animal carrying them often looks perfectly healthy. Familiar examples include rabies, salmonellosis, Ebola virus disease and several tick-borne infections.
People pick up zoonotic germs in several ways: by touching an animal or its saliva, blood, urine or feces; through contact with soil, water or surfaces where animals live; through the bite of a tick, mosquito or flea; and by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Zoonoses matter because they are so common. The CDC estimates that about six in ten known human infectious diseases, and around three in four new or emerging ones, can come from animals. Some begin as zoonoses and later spread mainly from person to person; HIV, which started as an infection of other primates, is the best-known case.
Because the health of people, animals and the environment is linked, zoonoses are a core topic in epidemiology and public health. Control relies on measures such as vaccinating animals against rabies, safe food handling, clean water, hand washing and protection from insect and tick bites.
Word parts
Where does the word “zoonosis” come from?
- zoo-
- animalGreek zōion
- nos-
- diseaseGreek nosos
Related
Terms that go with it
- PathogenA pathogen is a microbe or other agent, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, parasite or prion, that can cause disease in a host.
- VectorIn disease biology, a vector is a living organism, often a bloodsucking insect or tick, that carries a pathogen from one host to another.
- VirusA virus is a tiny infectious particle of DNA or RNA inside a protein coat that can multiply only by taking over the machinery of a living host cell.
- EpidemicAn epidemic is a rise in cases of a disease, often sudden, above the level normally expected in a given population, area and time.
- PandemicA pandemic is an epidemic that crosses international borders and spreads over several continents, typically infecting very many people.
- Public healthPublic health is the science and practice of preventing disease and injury and promoting health across whole communities rather than individual patients.
Sources
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