Emerging zoonoses: crossing the species barrier

The ability of infectious disease agents to cross the species barrier has long been recognised for many zoonotic diseases. New viral zoonotic diseases, such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by human immunodeficiency viruses 1 or 2, emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, and have become established in the human population. Influenza virus continues to find new ways to move from avian species into humans. The filoviruses and the newer paramyxoviruses, Hendra and Nipah, highlight the increasing proclivity of some animal viral agents to infect human populations with devastating results. A previously unknown transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, has emerged in cattle in Europe and spread to humans as well as other animal species. A novel toxicosis, caused by Pfiesteria spp. dinoflagellates, has become a secondary problem in some areas where large fish kills have occurred. The increasing proximity of human and animal populations has led to the emergence of, or increase in, bacterial zoonoses such as plague, leptospirosis and ehrlichiosis. The factors which influence the ability of each infectious agent to effectively cross the species barrier and infect new cells and populations are poorly understood. However, for all of these diseases, the underlying theme is the growth of the human population, the mobility of that population, and the efforts expended to keep that population nourished.