Wednesday 14 July 2010

ABC Wednesday Z is for Zoonosis


Zoonoses are infections that can be passed from vertebrate animals to humans and vice versa. Infection passed from human to non-human is sometimes called reverse zoonosis or anthroponosis. When you live in close proximity to animals it is impossible to ignore the relationship between illness in humans and a similar pattern of illness in companion animals. For most people, however, the emphasis is usually on those diseases that occur as a direct result of contact with an infected animal or through vectors of infection between non-human vertebrates, not necessarily mammals, and humans. Some infections are serious, potentially fatal, like Ebola or anthrax, while others are self-limiting, uncomfortable for a short period and possibly contributing to a stronger immune system.
Many modern diseases arose in animals. Measles, smallpox, HIV, diphtheria and influenza were all zoonoses. Bubonic plague and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are zoonotic and it is thought that the common cold and tuberculosis may also be zoonotic.
Most people know that rats, fleas, lice, ticks and mosquitoes carry disease. Cat and dog owners and those who keep horses or parrots will know of the potential infections that may be passed on - leptospirosis, ringworms, toxoplasmosis, psittacosis. Fish and snails can also harbour zoonoses – salmonella and yersinia. Walking in areas where wild animals roam poses dangers, too – Lyme disease from deer ticks, for example. (There are other dangers associated with wild animals but they don't usually involve infection unless you live to tell the tale of the tiger or elephant attack and the wounds become infected!)

Thanks are due to Denise Nesbitt and her zealous team who host this weekly meme. Click here to see more Zs - and they won't make you push out the ZZZs



15 comments:

  1. Great word and, as always, very informative post.

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

    ReplyDelete
  2. A very interesting important and informative posts to this week's theme!


    Annelie, ABC Wednesday Team

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, that's a new one for me! Love learning something I didn't know before! And a terrific word for the Z Day! Hope your week is going well so far, Janice! Enjoy!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  4. A new word for me and an informative post - thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Informative post. I think I'll go wash my hands now. I don't want to catch any cooties!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great Z word! And such good information!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very interesting. I knew infections could be passed from animal to human, but I didn't know the word Zoonosis. I'm always pleased to expand my vocabulary!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yikes, good job I'm not a hypochondriac, although I do always check for ticks if I've been walking through bracken, trouble is they are harder to spot than tigers.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know that animals can pass on some diseases to humans and likewise humans can pass illnesses on to animals. I would be happy if cats did not cause allergies and now I wonder do humans cause allergies in cats?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gosh we always learn so much each Wednesday!

    Thanks so much - hope to see you in Round 7!
    Denise
    ABC Team

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent word for the week and very informative! Thanks for the great post!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a great word for the week and very informative - especially for a pet owner!
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very informative, when I was young, I hated and was really scared of rats and mice. The reason: Zoonosis. Only at that time, I didn't know the word.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have the sudden desire to give my dog a bath...and clean my house. :-)

    ReplyDelete



Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments and really appreciate you taking the time to respond to posts.

I will always try to repay your visit whenever possible.