Researchers from the Complexity Science Hub and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna have dissected the complex interactions involved in zoonoses, which affect worldwide over two billion people annually. They introduce the concept of a "zoonotic web," a detailed network representation of the relationships between zoonotic agents, their hosts, vectors, food sources, and the environment. Zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted between animals and humans, are a significant public health concern, and our study highlights the importance of a holistic approach to understanding and managing these risks.
" Amélie Desvars-Larrive, epidemiologist and CSH researcher The transmission of zoonoses to humans can occur through direct contact with saliva, blood, urine, or even feces of infected animals. For instance, a bite (for rabies), a scratch (for cat scratch disease), or skin contact (for skin fungi). Indirect transmission can also occur through bites from arthropod vectors -- as with West Nile virus and tick-borne encephalitis – or through contact with contaminated objects, environments, or surfaces.
"For example, the food and water we consume can be potential routes of infection for zoonoses," adds Desvars-Larrive, also an associate professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni). "Zoonotic diseases are often discussed in terms of host-pathogen interactions. Understanding the complex animal-human-environment interface remains a significant challen.
,_3D_illustration._A_virus_transmitted_by_mosquito_and_caus_-_Kateryna_Kon_M1_cd7c644c9e204869b1de65dd2f361793-620x480.jpg)