Parasite zoonoses and wildlife: One health, spillover and human activity

Abstract

This review examines parasite zoonoses and wildlife in the context of the One Health triad that encompasses humans, domestic animals, wildlife and the changing ecosystems in which they live. Human (anthropogenic) activities influence the flow of all parasite infections within the One Health triad and the nature and impact of resulting spillover events are examined. Examples of spillover from wildlife to humans and/or domestic animals, and vice versa, are discussed, as well as emerging issues, particularly the need for parasite surveillance of wildlife populations. Emphasis is given to Trypanosoma cruzi and related species in Australian wildlife, Trichinella, Echinococcus, Giardia, Baylisascaris, Toxoplasma and Leishmania.

Biology and Systematics of Echinococcus

“…Echinococcus granulosus produces viable, fertile, cysts in sheep whereas in cattle and pigs, cysts are usually sterile and these hosts play little role in transmission of E. granulosus. Echinococcus granulosus preferentially affects the lungs of wild macropod marsupials and establishes clinically significant infections in contrast to the seemingly benign infections that develop in the liver and lungs of sheep infected with this species (Barnes et al, 2011;Thompson, 2013). p0060…”

The relationship between physiological stress and wildlife disease: consequences for health and conservation

“…In addition, improving our understanding of the relationship between stress and the incidence, prevalence, intensity, recrudescence and severity of disease in wildlife could benefit biodiversity conservation and One Health (Zinsstag et al 2011). One Health encompasses the collaborative goals of providing optimal health for people, animals (domestic and wild) and the environment, by considering interactions among these three systems (Thompson 2013). …”

Echinococcus as a model system: biology and epidemiology

“…Hydatid disease, cystic and alveolar, is a typical cyclozoonosis 53 that can be perpetuated in nature in wild animal cycles without 54 impacting on public health but with human interference 55 (Thompson, 2013), directly or accidentally, with spillover to 56 domestic cycles can lead to severe clinical disease and death. It is 57 also an important cause of economic losses to livestock industries, 58 particularly Echinococcus granulosus in sheep and cattle (Table 1).…”