Zoonoses Book

Written by Dr Jan H du Preez & Dr Gert P du Preez

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Education, training and information are the key to ensure that pet and animal owners, as well as people who have contact with animals, are safe and healthy.  There is no reason to fear animals or avoid them to protect oneself from zoonoses, and this book, the result of collaboration between experts in human and veterinary medicine, presents the message very clearly; continue to enjoy the close relationships you have with companion and other animals, the pleasure of watching and where possible interacting with wildlife, fishing, working with animals and eating whatever your favourite food may be, drinking milk, as long as you are aware of any possible risks and take the appropriate hygienic precautions in terms of their health and your to avoid infection.

A zoonosis is any disease or infection naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans and vice-versa.  Humans are often an incidental host that acquires disease through close contact with an infected animal that may or may not be symptomatic.  More than 200 zoonoses of various types are recognised worldwide.  Zoonoses can be caused by a range of disease-causing agents such as viruses, bacteria and many more; of 1,415 disease-causing agents known to infect humans, 61% were zoonotic (a disease that normally exist in animals but can infect humans).  Statistical data indicate that 15% or more of the human population will pick up a zoonotic infection at some stage of their lives.

The human acquires the zoonotic infections by direct contact, inhalation (breathing in), ingestion by mouth, fomite transmission (contact with an inanimate object), and by insect transmission. Some people are more at risk of getting infected with these zoonotic diseases than others e.g. elderly people (over 65 years), children under the age of five years, pregnant women, anyone with a weakened immune system.  Zoonoses also undermine the health, productivity and reproductively of livestock on which humans rely for their food (meat, milk, eggs), fibre (wool, hair, feathers) as well as labour and transport.  The annual worldwide monetary losses due to tuberculosis, brucellosis and rabies in cattle amount to several billion rand and South Africa is not exempt from this loss.  Zoonoses may thus, in the long run, add to the problem of human malnutrition, particularly in children.  Similarly, millions of people throughout the world will have to receive post-exposure treatment for rabies.  Zoonoses are of particular importance as occupational disease contracted by a person in the course of his or her occupation.  Zoonotic water- and foodborne diseases as well as food poisoning are significant and widespread public health threat.  Millions of man hours may be lost, and this has financial implications and brings about stress.  The relationship or bond between people and animals is presently receiving worldwide attention because of the mutual overwhelming benefits that such a dynamic relationship has for both parties.  Contributions of emotional, social and physical benefits by pets (especially dogs) and other animals to humans are indispensable.  It is, however, imperative that the health status of such pets and animals is beyond doubt to ensure that contact does not lead to contraction of a harmful zoonotic infections.  Zoonoses can be prevented and controlled through the necessary knowledge and information.

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