Toxoplasmosis - a waterborne zoonosis

Humans become infected with Toxoplasma gondii mainly by ingesting uncooked meat containing viable tissue cysts or by ingesting food or water contaminated with oocysts from the feces of infected cats. Circumstantial evidence suggests that oocyst-induced infections in humans are clinically more severe than tissue cyst-acquired infections. Until recently, water-borne transmission of T. gondii was considered uncommon but a large human outbreak linked to contamination of a municipal water reservoir in Canada by wild felids and the widespread infection by marine mammals in the USA provide reasons to question this view. The present paper reviews information on the biology of oocyst-induced infections of T. gondii in humans and animals and examines possible importance of transmission by water.     

Current problems in zoonosis research

New developments in the field of Zoonosis research are discussed. They include: 1. New emerging viral zoonosis 2. Multicausal zoonoses 3. Genetic aspects of the origin of new zoonoses 4. Transmission of zoonoses to man through foodstuffs of animal origin 5. The environment and zoonoses. Continuous zoonosis research with new molecular biological techniques is a necessity. In the final analysis, there are no true limits in the field of infectiology. Such research requires cooperation between ecologists, zoologists, botanists, molecular biologists, physicians and veterinarians.     

Trichinellosis: a worldwide zoonosis

Trichinella spp. are some of the most widespread parasites infecting people and other mammals all over the world, regardless of climate. This paper attempts to describe the present status of trichinellosis worldwide and to determine if and why trichinellosis is emerging or re-emerging. The global prevalence of the disease is difficult to evaluate but as many as 11 million people may be infected. More than 10000 cases of human trichinellosis were reported by the International Commission on Trichinellosis from 1995 to June 1997 and about 10000 porcine infections were reported by the Office International des Epizooties in 1998. The disease is particularly worrisome in the Balkans, Russia, the Baltic republics, in some parts of China and Argentina. Horsemeat-related outbreaks have been reported in France and Italy and have involved about 3000 patients in the past 25 years. The emergence of trichinellosis in some countries is explained by a better knowledge of the disease (formerly often misdiagnosed as influenza), modifications of consumer habits, re-forestation in Europe and increase of wild game, importation of meats from countries where trichinellosis is endemic and failure of veterinary control due to human error or to social upheavals. This disease linked to meat-consumption which is theoretically easy to prevent by adequate cooking, freezing and veterinary controls, should deserve the attention of all persons involved in public health and it could be eradicated at least from domestic pigs.     

人畜共患病的防治对策

人畜共患病是指人类与人类饲养的畜禽之间自然传播的疾病和感染疾病。20世纪70年代以来,全球范围新出现传染病和重新出现传染病达到60多种,其中半数以上是人畜共患病。人畜共患病是由病毒、细菌、     

Tularaemia: A challenging zoonosis

In recent years, several emerging zoonotic vector-borne infections with potential impact on human health have been identified in Europe, including tularaemia, caused by Francisella tularensis. This remarkable pathogen, one of the most virulent microorganisms currently known, has been detected in increasingly new settings and in a wide range of wild species, including lagomorphs, rodents, carnivores, fish and invertebrate arthropods. Also, a renewed concern has arisen with regard to F. tularensis: its potential use by bioterrorists. Based on the information published concerning the latest outbreaks, the aim of this paper is to review the main features of the agent, its biology, immunology and epidemiology. Moreover, special focus will be given to zoonotic aspects of the disease, as tularaemia outbreaks in human populations have been frequently associated with disease in animals.     

Brucellosis: A re-emerging zoonosis

Brucellosis, especially caused by Brucella melitensis, remains one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide with more than 500,000 human cases reported annually. The bacterial pathogen is classified by the CDC as a category (B) pathogen that has potential for development as a bio-weapon. Brucella spp. are considered as the most common laboratory-acquired pathogens. The geographical distribution of brucellosis is constantly changing with new foci emerging or re-emerging. The disease occurs worldwide in both animals and humans, except in those countries where bovine brucellosis has been eradicated. The worldwide economic losses due to brucellosis are extensive not only in animal production but also in human health. Although a number of successful vaccines are being used for immunization of animals, no satisfactory vaccine against human brucellosis is available. When the incidence of brucellosis is controlled in the animal reservoirs, there is a corresponding and significant decline in the incidence in humans.     

一种新的人畜共患病——尼帕病

尼帕病 (Ｎｉｐａｈ ,有人翻译为宜麦病 )是 1 998年在马来西亚首次发现的鲜为人知的一种人畜共患传染病 ,严重危害人和猪 ,发病急 ,致死率高。其特征性症状是严重的呼吸道和神经症状 ,患者颈部和腹部痉挛 ,公猪和母猪则表现为突然死亡[1] 。1　地理分布及危害1 997年 1月 ,马来西亚霹雳州暗邦地区一个在养猪场工作的工人因病入院 ,其临床症状与其他已知的疾病特别是日本脑炎 (即乙型脑炎 )没有明显的区别 ,被诊断为病毒性脑炎。1 998年发生更多的病例 ,仅约 1 5%的患者可诊断为日本乙型脑炎 ,其余 85%原因不明。此后 ,在一些养猪场也陆续发…