Zoonotic diseases: a One Health perspective

Abstract The emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases including zoonoses and persistence of neglected zoonotic diseases threaten the global health and economy of rural societies now more than any time in the history of humanity. Animals are the main reservoirs of zoonotic disease agents, and zoonotic pathogens are transmitted to humans by direct contacts with infected animals or indirectly through animal products and the environment. A range of factors contribute in persistence and emergence of zoonoses, and globalization, climate change, and lack of proper coordination among the governmental organization responsible for human and animal health are the key indicators. Given the shared nature of zoonotic diseases and the spread, emergence, and re-emergence of zoonotic diseases in human and animal populations, integrated One Health is the only effective approach to solve this most important health issue. In this article, different aspects of zoonotic diseases, their role in incremental poverty, and the needs for integrated activities for their control and management are reviewed and discussed in detail.