Zoonoses



Zoonoses

Introduction

Zoonoses are diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. The causative agents are bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. Possible zoonotic exposure can be eliminated by good personal hygiene and handling of animals in a prescribed manner. Frequent hand and glove washing with an approved disinfectant such as NOLVASANâ surgical scrub must be a priority that is strictly adhered. Good hygiene will also prevent cross-contamination of non-zoonotic diseases from animal to animal. Do not have hand-to-eye or hand-to-mouth contact while working with animals or soiled animal caging, bedding, and accessories. Handling animals in the prescribed manner for that species can prevent zoonotic exposure through bites, scratches, and abrasions.

Discussion

The greatest health problem today is the spread of malaria. This airborne disease has been prevalent since ancient times where mosquitoes have been prescribed as the cause of numerous illnesses (Tolle, 2009, p. 97). Malaria is defined as a disease that is the result of a contingent of macroparasites that infects humans. In its totality, there are four different species of Plasmodium parasites that induce malaria. The female Anopheles mosquitoes are mostly held responsible for transmission and are numerous in number within Africa, Latin America and Asia (Stratton et al, 2008, p.854). For an individual to contract malaria, a mosquito carrying the airborne disease must pass it on into the individual's bloodstream in what is prescribed as a sporozoite. The human acts as a host allowing the parasite to live in both red blood cells and liver cells. Malaria is most deadly when red blood cells are obliterated and as a result leads to threatening symptoms. As time passes, the parasites turn into gametocytes. When a mosquito bites the host, this gametocyte is consumed by the mosquito.

The gametocyte then begins to mature and replicate within the new mosquito which ultimately ...