Parasitic zoonoses at the rodent-captive primate-human health interface.
Parasitic diseases at the wildlife/primate/human interface are of particular importance in zoological gardens. Better understanding of the types of wildlife parasites that do persist in zoological gardens, and drives that lead to increases in prevalence or impacts, can point to new strategies for limiting the risk of human and captive primates' exposure in zoo centres. Also, it improves our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that influence the emergence of parasitic diseases. As wild animals and humans come into greater contact with each other, the risk posed by multi-host parasites for humans, captive primates, and wildlife populations increases. Despite strong public awareness of the fact that wildlife constitutes a large and often unknown reservoir of most emerging infectious diseases, animal-human interaction has not been addressed. Herein, the potential for cross-species parasite transmission between the wild rodents, captive primates and humans is considered using the current literature and medical records. Additionally, some aspects of the interface among wildlife, captive primates and humans and its impacts on human health are discussed. Finally, priorities for future research are identified, including identifying those parasites for which multi-host interaction is likely to have the greatest impact.
Elsheikha
Hany M
HM
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, United Kingdom. Hany.Elsheikha@nottingham.ac.uk
Clayton
Samantha J
SJ
Morsy
Tosson A
TA
Yon
Lisa K
LK
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000635:transmission*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D011323:Primates; D012307:Risk Factors; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D012377:Rodentia; D015047:Zoonoses