Veterinary Epidemiology and Zoonosis

INTRODUCTION

• Many of the helminth parasites common to both animals and humans have an indirect life cycle and thus limits the zoonotic potential of these organisms.
• Helminths are potentially zoonotic in the laboratory environment, but they represent a significantly smaller problem than bacterial or viral diseases.
• Food-borne zoonotic helminthosis very common in India, which includes
  • Trichinosis
  • Taeniosis / Cysticercosis
  • Diphyllobothriosis
  • Hydatidosis
• Additionally few other important zoonotic parasitic diseases have also been provided, such as
  • Cercarial dermatitis
  • Cutaneous larval migrans
  • Visceral larval migrans
• The preventive and control measures that reduce the transmission and incidences of zoonotic parasitic diseases in human beings are:
  • Quarantine, surveillance and treatment to decrease endoparasitic burden
  • Routine sanitation to eliminate parasitic ova before they can become infective
  • Education of personnel on standard hygiene practices