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Conference Summary
Vets, Meds, and Zoonotic Threats
Silvio Pitlik*
*Rabin Medical Center-Beilison Campus, Petah Tikva, Israel
Suggested citation
for this article:
Pitlik S. Vets, meds, and zoonotic threats. Emerg Infect Dis [serial
online] 2004 Apr [date cited]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no4/03-0805.htm
The fourth international conference on emerging zoonoses (September 18–21,
Ames, Iowa, USA) brought together 180 scientists and healthcare specialists
from 18 countries working to control diseases transmitted from animals
to humans. The meeting took place under the auspices of the Center of
Food Security and Public Health, USA, and the Institute for International
Cooperation in Animal Biologics (a collaborating center of the World Animal
Health Organisation [OIE]).
A multidisciplinary and global approach shed new light on both old and
new zoonoses. For example, brucellosis topics covered a wide range of
material, from economic aspects of control in Mongolia to characterization
of Brucella isolates from feral swine in coastal South Carolina.
Another presentation concerned the increasingly appreciated role of wildlife
in the dynamic epidemiology of other zoonotic infections, such as tuberculosis.
Scientists also explored the intricate routes prions follow between wildlife
and domestic animals; between sheep, cattle, and humans; and between the
tongue and brain of infected animals.
Since most agents of bioterrorism potential are zoonotic, a full session
was dedicated to bioterrorism and biodefense. It included a global view,
a report on national preparedness by Israeli hospitals, and examples of
research that may eventually help experts coping with bioterrorism but
would also unfortunately be accessible to persons with malicious intent.
Innovative methods for preventing spread of foodborne pathogens were
presented, including the use of fluorescence spectroscopy to detect fecal
contamination on animal carcasses or the use of vaccination to reduce
transmission of zoonotic pathogens and drug-resistant nonpathogens through
the food chain to humans. In the field of xenotransplantation, key components
of a source-animal production facility were described. The feasibility
of breeding pigs free of designated pathogens offers hope for wide use
of xenotransplantation in the near future.
Participants also discussed current trends and challenges of protozoan
parasitic zoonoses, including cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, African
and Latin American trypanosomiasis, and leishmaniasis. Controversial zoonotic
viruses were given an important place in the conference. These included
hepatitis E virus, with similar strains causing liver disease in swine
and humans; Borna disease virus, causing neurologic disease in various
species of animals as well as, debatably, psychiatric disorders in humans;
and the recently discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome–associated
coronavirus and its yet-undefined animal reservoir. The recent mapping
of the genome of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis,
the etiologic agent of Jhone’s disease in cows, brought some hope in solving
the long-lasting dispute on its role in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease
in humans.
The value of using a global, multidisciplinary approach was highlighted
in studies on the flow of genes among avian, swine, and other influenza
viruses and on the ongoing intercontinental spread of arboviruses, exemplified
by the evolving epizootic of equine West Nile encephalitis in the United
States. Several papers dealt with the epidemiology of Nipah, Ebola, monkeypox,
rabies, and Hantaan viruses.
A series of presentations demonstrated how genomic fingerprinting and
other sophisticated molecular biology techniques allow exceptionally fast
development in understanding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of many
zoonotic infections, such as those caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7
or by species of Anaplasma, Bartonella, Borrelia,
Campylobacter, Coxiella, Francisella, Pasteurella,
and Salmonella.
The "one-track" meeting, by avoiding parallel and superspecialized
sessions, gave an opportunity for fruitful and inspiring interactions
among experts from multiple disciplines with a shared goal of mitigating
human disease from emerging infections. More details on the meeting can
be viewed online (available at: http://www.target-conferences.com/zoonoses2003).
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