"This book discusses many of the most prominent and some less prominent zoonoses that have affected mankind. ... Although this book could be read by lay persons, it is most suitable for microbiologists and practitioners of infectious diseases. ... I enjoyed this book." (Jack M. Bernstein, Doody's Book Reviews, June, 2017)
1.Pandemic zoonoses from the Middle-Ages to the 20th Century.- 2.Animals and mechanisms of disease transmission.- 3.Swine and avian influenza outbreaks in recent times.- 4.Emerging animal coronaviruses: First SARS and now MERS.- 5.Emergence of new tickborne infections.- 6.Chikungunya virus and Zika virus expansion: an imitation of Dengue virus.- 7.Ebola and Marburg: out of Africa.- 8.Hepatitis E: a zoonosis.- 9.Zoonotic malaria: Plasmodium knowlesi.- 10.Zoonotic streptococci: A focus on Streptocccus suis.- 11.New and emerging parasitic zoonoses.
The book begins with a review of zoonotic pandemics of the past: the “Black Death” or bubonic plague of the Middle Ages, the Spanish Influenza pandemic (derived from avian influenza) of the early 20th century, to the more modern pandemic of AIDS/HIV infection, which originated in Africa from primates. However, the majority of chapters focus on more recent zoonoses, which have been recognized since the late 20th century to the present:
SARS and MERS coronaviruses
New avian influenza viruses
The tick-borne Henan fever virus from China
The tick-borne Heartland virus from the United States
Recently recognized bacterial pathogens, such as Streptococcus suis from pigs.
In addition, reemergence of established zoonoses that have expanded their niche are reviewed, such as the spread of Zika virus and Chikungunya virus to the Western Hemisphere, and the emergence and spread of Ebola virus infection in Africa. A chapter is also devoted to an overview of the mechanisms and various types of animals involved in the transmission of diseases to humans, and the potential means of control and prevention. Many endemic and sporadic diseases are still transmitted by animals, through either direct or indirect contact, and zoonoses are estimated to account for about 75% of all new and emerging infectious diseases. It is predicted by public health experts that the next major pandemic of infectious disease will be of animal origin, making Emerging Zoonoses: A Worldwide Perspective a crucial resource to all health care specialists by providing them with much needed information on these zoonotic diseases.