(Noun. /zoo-NO-sis/) Plural: zoonoses
By Lacey Lopez
What does it mean?
“Zoonosis” is a disease or infection that naturally spreads between animals and humans. Owing to our close relationship with animals, zoonoses are a significant global health concern. There are currently over 200 known zoonoses and about 60% of emerging infectious diseases were reported to be zoonotic. The zoonosis-causing germs can be bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic and can be spread through direct or indirect contact with animals. For example, in the figure below, we see various ways of spreading zoonoses. Anyone can get sick from a zoonosis. However, zoonoses can be prevented through simple protective measures like vaccination, handwashing, using hand sanitizer, avoiding bites and scratches, or practicing food safety.
Image is the author’s own creation.
Examples of zoonosis include:
Escherichia coli and Salmonella bacteria (causes food poisoning), Yersinia pestis bacteria (causes plague), Ebola virus, Rabies virus, Ringworm fungal disease, and tapeworm parasitic infection.
How do I use it in a sentence?
Last weekend, while reading in her backyard, Taylor found an adorable gray cat. Taylor pet and hugged the cat, but forgot to wash her hands. Ten days later, a round, red, itchy rash appeared on Taylor’s arm. Taylor went to the Doctor’s office and the Doctor told her she had contracted ringworm, a fungal zoonosis, from her beloved cat. Now, Taylor has to take antifungal medication and be careful not to spread ringworm to her friends or pets!
Etymology
The term “Zoonosis” was coined in the late 19th century by Rudolph Virchow and is a fusion of two Greek words (“zoon”, meaning “animals” and “noson”, meaning “disease”).
Fields of study in which this word is commonly used:
Medicine, diagnostic and clinical laboratories, biology, microbiology, and immunology.
Related terms:
Anthropozoonosis
Zooanthroponosis
