Infectious Diseases (Human and Animal)

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic Spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira. These bacteria called leptospires affect both humans and animals. Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urinecontaminated environment. It is a zoonosis. Human-to-human transmission occurs only very rarely (adapted from WHO and ILS, 2003 and WHO, 2020).

Peste des petits ruminants is a highly contagious and devastating disease of goats and sheep. The causative agent, Peste des petits ruminants virus is a member of the genus Morbillivirus, Family Paramyxoviridae and Order Mononegavirales (adapted from FAO, 2020a; OiE, 2020).

Antimicrobial resistant microorganisms are those microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) that change when they are exposed to antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintic). Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as ‘superbugs’. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others (WHO, 2020).

Varicella is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by varicellazoster virus (WHO, 2014).

Paratyphoid fever is a systemic disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella Paratyphi usually through ingestion of contaminated food or water (WHO, 2019).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARSCoV) (WHO, 2019).

Anthrax is a disease caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivorous animals, although all mammals, including humans can contract it. In humans, anthrax manifests itself in three distinct patterns (cutaneous, gastrointestinal, inhalational) (adapted from WHO, FAO and OIE, 2008; CDC, 2020).

Plague is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by the zoonotic bacteria Yersinia pestis (Dennis et al., 1999).

Q fever is a widespread zoonosis caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. The respiratory tract is the most common route of infection, which occurs by inhalation of contaminated dust and spray shed from infected animals. Livestock, more specifically dairy goats and cows are considered as the major ‘source’ for human infections; dairy products from infected goats or cows are also an important source of infection (FAO, no date).

Animal disease is an impairment of the normal state of an animal that interrupts or modifies its vital function. Infectious diseases of livestock and wildlife are a major threat to global animal health and welfare and their effective control is crucial for agronomic health, for safeguarding and securing national and international food supplies and for alleviating rural poverty in developing countries. This hazard information profile focusses on animal diseases not including zoonoses (Britannica, 2021; adapted from Tomley and Shirley, 2009).