2025/06/30 by Riaz Ahmed · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology #Viral Infections and Vectors #Zoonotic diseases and public health
paper · pdf · doi:10.70389/pjid.100003
openalex publication_date 2025/06/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
Zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans pose an escalating threat to global health, driven by rapid environmental change, wildlife exploitation, and intensive animal husbandry. The current review paper synthesizes up-to-date knowledge on the mechanisms and pathways of zoonotic spillover and examines biological prerequisites such as host range expansion, viral mutation, and viral recombination occurring in intermediate hosts. The review analyzes transmission routes, including direct contact, fomites, foodborne, vector-borne, and airborne pathways, and highlights the amplifying role of ecological disturbance, wildlife density, and “mixing vessels” like live animal markets and factory farms. Case studies of severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome, avian and swine influenza, Ebola, and COVID-19 illustrate common transmission dynamics and public health challenges. Furthermore, global risk mitigation strategies are evaluated, from One Health frameworks and wildlife surveillance platforms to biosecurity measures, trade regulations, and community-driven behavior change initiatives. Finally, the study identifies critical research gaps, such as the integration of ecological data, surveillance in biodiversity hotspots, AI-based predictive modeling, and data-sharing barriers, and proposed multidisciplinary recommendations to enhance early detection, regulation, and ecosystem conservation. The review paper aims to inform policy and strengthen resilience against future zoonotic pandemics by encouraging transdisciplinary collaboration and proactive prevention.