Diseases are abnormalities or a sense of discomfort felt in any part of the body. It can be mild or severe depending upon the causative and the impact it has on the body parts. Some diseases can be cured while some can be fatal. Diseases can be hereditary or could be acquired by different sources. Not only human-to-human, diseases can also be spread across species. The diseases that exist in animals and can affect humans are referred to as zoonotic diseases.
Time has been a witness to the theory that man evolved from apes and has been closely associated with animals as humans are categorized under the animal kingdom. We inhabit around animals, they are a critical part of the ecosystem. The food chain consists of plants - the primary producers, herbivorous animals (depend upon plants), carnivorous animals feed upon animals, omnivores (humans) who feed upon both plants and animals and the decomposers who feed on the decaying matter of these animals to keep the chain going.
However, this chain not only passes nutrition but in some cases, diseases are conveyed along. There are different media for passage of these diseases such as contaminated water, polluted air, infected plant sources, microbes etc.
Diseases Conveyed By Animals
Diseases are usually carried by agents to reach humans. These agents typically are microbes. Microorganisms such as fungi, virus, bacteria, protozoans are known to transmit diseases. They are similar to each other but have been categorized as they possess a few differential traits. For instance, a key difference between virus and bacteria is that viruses require a host to survive, unlike bacteria which do not require a host for survival, they can exist independently.
Listed below are 4 zoonotic diseases:
1. HIV/AIDS
Yes, you read that right. Much before HIV got synonymous as a communicable and contagious disease, the origination of the disease drew a lot of attention. The disease originated from chimps and other primates and is known to have infected humans nearly a century ago.
Causative: Human Immunodeficiency virus
2. Swine Flu
Also referred to as 'pig influenza', it is known to be one of the worst in the history of flu outbreaks. It is a highly contagious respiratory infection that is caused by an influenza strain which was first observed in pigs.
Causative: Influenza Virus A
3. Ebola
The disease affects humans through proximity with infected animals such as forest antelope, fruit bats and chimpanzees. It can be passed by direct contact with bodily fluids, blood or patients who died of ebolavirus disease.
Causative: Viruses belonging to the Filoviridae and Ebolavirus family.
4. Insane mind parasite
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is known to affect the human brain, increasing the risk of neuroticism which may lead to schizophrenia. The primary host of this infection is house cats wherein the microbe multiplies sexually. Domestic cats which are left to roam around the place are prone to picking up the disease and can pass from the cat faeces to humans.
Causative: Toxoplasma gondii
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