Major zoonotic diseases of public health importance in Bangladesh

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases cause repeated outbreaks in humans globally. The majority of emerging infections in humans are zoonotic. COVID‐19 is an ideal example of a recently identified emerging zoonotic disease, causing a global pandemic. Anthropogenic factors such as modernisation of agriculture and livestock farming, wildlife hunting, the destruction of wild animal habitats, mixing wild and domestic animals, wildlife trading, changing food habits and urbanisation could drive the emergence of zoonotic diseases in humans. Since 2001, Bangladesh has been reporting many emerging zoonotic disease outbreaks such as nipah, highly pathogenic avian influenza, pandemic H1N1, and COVID‐19. There are many other potential zoonotic pathogens such as Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Kyasanur forest disease virus and Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever that may emerge in the future. However, we have a limited understanding of zoonotic diseases’ overall risk in humans and associated factors that drive the emergence of zoonotic pathogens. This narrative review summarised the major emerging, re‐emerging, neglected and other potential zoonotic diseases in Bangladesh and their associated risk factors. Nipah virus and Bacillus anthracis caused repeated outbreaks in humans. More than 300 human cases with Nipah virus infection were reported since the first outbreak in 2001. The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) caused more than 550 outbreaks in poultry, and eight human cases were reported so far since 2007. People of Bangladesh are frequently exposed to zoonotic pathogens due to close interaction with domestic and peri‐domestic animals. The rapidly changing intensified animal–human–ecosystem interfaces and risky practices increase the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. The narrative review's findings are useful to draw attention to the risk and emergence of zoonotic diseases to public health policymakers in Bangladesh and the application of one‐health approach to address this public health threat.

Bacillus spp. Contamination: A Novel Risk Originated From Animal Feed to Human Food Chains in South-Eastern Bangladesh

“…Food-borne diseases are likely one of the most serious public health problems in Bangladesh concerning food safety challenges and their associated economic and social costs ( Chowdhury et al, 2021 ). This is the first study of the Bacillus spp.…”

Zoonotic diseases of fish and their prevention and control

“…To solve this fundamental problem, it is important to monitor multidrug-resistant microbes in humans and animals as the uniform functioning of communities. In addition, it requires strong assistance between physicians, veterinarians and environmental experts (Chowdhury et al 2021 ).…”

Gut microbiota and meat quality

“…Domestic animals also play a significant role in the transmission of various diseases to humans and in many cases, they work as amplifiers of pathogens emerging from wild animals ( Morand et al, 2014 ). Cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, and other domestic animals act as reservoirs of pathogens of domestic zoonoses and can transmit the diseases to humans ( Chowdhury et al, 2021 ). Pathogens can be transmitted through direct contact or animal-origin foods.…”