Zoonotic Diseases Challenge Public Health

Microorganisms causing zoonotic diseases, diseases in both cattle and people, are numerous. Bacterial diseases, fungal diseases, parasitic diseases, viral diseases all impact both cattle and people. Among the more common are Salmonella spp., E. coli 0157:H7, Cryptospordium parvum, Leptospirosis spp., Brucella spp., anthrax, tetanus, tuberculosis, and Streptococcus spp.

People who live or work around cattle and are immune deficient are of greater risk.

There are some diseases about which the zoonotic aspect remains speculative. Some scientists believe paratuberculosis or Johne’s disease is zoonotic and results in Crohn's disease in people. Others believe bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is also zoonotic and the source of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in man. This is speculative and links to human disease have not been verified.