Focus on . . . Zoonoses

In terms of transport and trade, the world is now a much smaller place than it was even fifty years ago. Livestock production is now much more intensive and, with the rising demand for meat, so livestock and livestock products are more likely to travel - and with them any diseases they might carry. This is of particular concern not just in terms of livestock health and the risk of transmitting disease to new regions but also for those diseases that can be passed to humans - zoonoses. In developing countries where livestock and people are often housed at close quarters, zoonotic diseases can add to what is an already over-burdened public health system. In terms of food safety, the potential for disease to spread from one animal to a number of consumers has to be met by adequate regulations for processing which must be in place if developing countries wish to fulfil the rigorous standards required for export. Emerging zoonotic diseases are, perhaps, a more recent concern but one which will continue to attract international attention as the scientific community grapple to predict when and where new viruses may strike. In this edition of New Agriculturist, we focus on a number of zoonotic diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, internal parasites and self-replicating prions, and links are provided to articles on zoonotic diseases covered in previous editions.

Once bitten . . .

Not everyone bitten by a rabid animal contracts the disease but if they do, and once the clinical signs of rabies are visible, death is inevitable. No one knows exactly how many people die each year but what is known, however, is that the technical means to control rabies exist. So why does this fearful, fatal disease not receive greater...

BSE to CJD?

Few animal diseases have caught public attention more than what came to be known as Mad Cow Disease. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE was first seen in the United Kingdom in 1986. Although by far the most cases have been diagnosed in the UK, BSE is undoubtedly present in many countries around the world....

Relieving the burden of brucellosis?

First identified in the second half of the 19th century, as a result of research into why sailors on board ship in the Mediterranean were falling sick, brucellosis has been with us for perhaps thousands of years and the disease remains, and is considered by FAO, WHO and OIE, as the most widespread zoonosis....

West Nile Virus: From Africa to America

In 1999, West Nile virus was first detected in the New York area of the USA. Several species of birds in the local zoo succumbed to the virus and 59 cases of meningoencephalitis disease were diagnosed among New York residents, and seven people died. Since then, the virus has spread right across the USA...

Getting the measure of tapeworms

The livestock revolution is stimulating some unpleasant side effects. Cysticercosis, a debilitating disease that threatens household food security and farming livelihoods, seems to be getting worse as.....

Hidden health problems caused by fish-borne trematodes

Fish-borne trematode infections tend to go unnoticed and hence be under-recorded, not least because the symptoms are often quite general, and may be mistaken for a range of other infections and conditions. However, given that an estimated 19 million people are infected with fish-borne trematodes in SE Asia and another 20 million in China, this hidden problem clearly affects....

From rats to bats and beyond

Nipah virus, the disease which was 'discovered' in 1999 in Malaysia after an encephalitis-like infection spread through pigs and humans, is now known to be carried by certain species of fruit bats. Although the epidemic was relatively short-lived, the economic and social effects will continue to be....

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