Zoonoses

Definition

• Non-human vertebrate host is reservoir of infection
• Humans only involved incidentally
  • Human infection follows contact with reservoir host
  • Human stage of infection not essential for life cycle of pathogen
  • Human infection not essential for maintenance of pathogen in nature
  • Rarely transmitted effectively from human to human

Points

• Control of exposure important
• Non-specific symptoms of infection
• Specific indicators of exposure