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Every day thousands of children and
adults die from underdiagnosed diseases
that have arisen at the human–animal–
environment interface, especially diarrheal
and respiratory diseases in developing
countries [1,2]. Explosive human population
growth and environmental changes
have resulted in increased numbers of
people living in close contact with wild
and domestic animals. Unfortunately, this
increased contact together with changes
in land use, including livestock grazing
and crop production, have altered the
inherent ecological balance between
pathogens and their human and animal
hosts. In fact, zoonotic pathogens, such as
influenza and SARS (severe acute respiratory
syndrome), account for the majority
of emerging infectious diseases in
people [3], and more than three-quarters
of emerging zoonoses are the result of
wildlife-origin pathogens [4]. While zoonoses
represent a significant emerging
threat to public health, many of these
diseases, such as diarrheal diseases arising
from poor water sanitation, are neglected
by funding agencies [5]. |
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