Review Article
Rajeev Kumar, SP Singh and
Abstract
Zoonotic diseases shared by vertebrates and humans in Nature. An updated literature survey indicated that 816 of 1407 (58%) human pathogens which included viruses with prions (208), bacteria with rickettsia (538), fungi with microsporidia (317), protozoa (57) and helminths (287) were zoonotic, were capable of being transmitted naturally between animals and humans. Of these 77 (37%), 54 (10%), 22 (7%), 14 (25%) and 10 (3%) were emerging or reemerging, respectively. The risk factors precipitating the occurrence of EZD are many and are in a state of continuous evolution and agents relevant to South-East Asia. These include avian influenza, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, leptospirosis, Hanta virus, SARS, Nipah virus, cysticercosis, echinococcosis and schistosomosis. In addition, plague and anthrax are also considered important in India.