Zoonoses caused by diverse etiological agents, are important from public health and economic point of view, and are reported in humans and animals from developing and developed nations of the world. Cryptosporidiosis is an emerging food and waterborne zoonotic protozoan disease that has been detected in both human and animal populations all over the world. The source of infection is exogenous, and the ingestion of contaminated food and water is the principal mode of transmission. The oocysts of Cryptosporidium are abundant and pervasive in ambient water, where they can survive for months. It prefers epithelial cells found in the digestive tracts of a wide range of hosts. Waterborne transmission through drinking water or a swimming pool is common, resulting in outbreaks in several nations throughout the world. The disease can manifest itself in sporadic or epidemic forms. The infection has been recorded in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, anorexia and low grade fever are most commonly observed symptoms. The laboratory help is required to make an unequivocal diagnosis of disease. The preventive strategies include excellent hygienic measures to avoid the contamination of food and water by oocysts of Cryptosporidium. In addition, the role of veterinarian is highly imperative for the management of disease in domestic animals.

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A number of laboratory techniques are employed to establish the diagnosis of microbial diseases that cause significant morbidity as well as mortality in humans and animals throughout the world. Leptospirosis is an emerging and re-emerging enigmatic zoonotic disease of public health and economic importance. Currently, over 600,000 human deaths are attributed due to leptosprirosis annually in the world. However, there is a lack of information on Leptospira strains in remote parts of the world. The diagnosis of leptospirosis is challenging due to non-specific clinical feature. Thus, laboratory tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of disease due to its varied symptomatology. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT), which determines agglutinating antibodies in sera for various serovars of Leptospira species is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) usually detects only the antibodies reacting with a broadly reactive genus specific antigen and thus gives no indication of the causative serovar or serogroup, which limits its application. Polymerase chain reaction on the other hand is considered sensitive and specific for the rapid detection of Leptospira in clinical samples. It is imperative to employ immunological and molecular techniques in order to make an unequivocal diagnosis of leptospirosis to institute immediate therapy to mitigate the suffering of the patients.

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Lassa fever is a highly prevalent viral zoonosis that affects two to three million people in West Africa. This is a rodent-borne disease, which has serious consequences on the population and hospital staff in endemic areas. Lassa fever is a public health concern inflicting severe morbidity and important mortality (Case rate (CFR) ≥ 50%), particularly in epidemic cases. The disease has emerged as one of the most prevalent and debilitating viral hemorrhagic fevers and is endemic in the West Africa region. The control and prevention of the regular outbreak of the disease have become a herculean task in the affected; there is inadequate healthcare facility (including laboratory/diagnostic and care centers), poor socioeconomic environment, lack of awareness among the populace, and presence of favorable ecologic niche for the survival and propagation of the natural host and reservoir mouse (Mastomys natalensis) of Lassa virus. It is mainly transmitted by contact with excretions and secretions of infected rats via foods and water as well as exposure to other contaminated items. It is an enveloped, single-stranded (SS) segmented RNA virus with the ability to replicate very rapidly. The virus infects almost every tissue in the human body resulting in multisystem dysfunction. The incubation period is generally between 6 to 21 days resulting in 3 stages of clinical manifestation viz: Acute phase characterized by flu-like, non-specific illness; hemorrhagic phase accompanied with gastrointestinal symptoms and cardiovascular/neurologic complications. Laboratory help is required in order to make an unequivocal diagnosis of the disease. Early diagnosis and prompt therapy are crucial to saving the life of the patient. Currently, there is no clinically certified Lassa fever vaccine thus complicating preventive, and control measures.