Emerging zoonoses in the southern United States: toxocariasis, bovine tuberculosis and southern tick-associated rash illness.
The majority of emerging diseases in humans have been linked to zoonotic pathogens originating in domestic animals or wildlife. This is a public health concern because zoonotic infections affect several aspects of the society. The complex interactions among pathogen, host and environment also pose challenges in estimating the true burden of those infections. However, the recent development of new molecular diagnostic tools has allowed for better diagnosis of zoonotic infections. This review focuses on 3 emerging zoonoses, namely toxocariasis, bovine tuberculosis and southern tick-associated rash illness, and demonstrates that these infections may be more prevalent in the southern United States than previously recognized. This review places special emphasis on the recent epidemiologic trends, intra/interspecies transmission and clinical features of each of these zoonoses. In addition, treatment and prevention for each zoonotic pathogen are discussed. Clinicians working in the southern United States should be aware of the presence of those zoonotic infections.
Clinton
Rachel M
RM
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA.
Carabin
Hélène
H
Little
Susan E
SE
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004890:Erythema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology*