One Health – an Ecological and Evolutionary Framework for tackling Neglected Zoonotic Diseases

Webster, J P; Gower, C M; Knowles, S C L; Fenton, A

Abstract

Understanding the complex population biology and transmission ecology of multihost parasites has been declared as one of the major challenges of biomedical sciences for the 21st century and the Neglected Zoonotic Diseases (NZDs) are perhaps the most neglected of all the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Here we consider how multihost parasite transmission and evolutionary dynamics may affect the success of human and animal disease control programmes, particularly neglected diseases of the developing world. We review the different types of zoonotic interactions that occur, both ecological and evolutionary, their potential relevance for current human control activities, and make suggestions for the development of an empirical evidence base and theoretical framework to better understand and predict the outcome of such interactions. In particular, we consider whether preventive chemotherapy, the current mainstay of NTD control, can be successful without a One Health approach. Transmission within and between animal reservoirs and humans can have important ecological and evolutionary consequences, driving the evolution and establishment of drug resistance, as well as providing selective pressures for spill‐over, host switching, hybridizations and introgressions between animal and human parasites. Our aim here is to highlight the importance of both elucidating disease ecology, including identifying key hosts and tailoring control effort accordingly, and understanding parasite evolution, such as precisely how infectious agents may respond and adapt to anthropogenic change. Both elements are essential if we are to alleviate disease risks from NZDs in humans, domestic animals and wildlife.

Citation

Webster, J. P., Gower, C. M., Knowles, S. C. L., & Fenton, A. (2016). One Health – an Ecological and Evolutionary Framework for tackling Neglected Zoonotic Diseases. Evolutionary Applications, 9(2), 313-333. https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12341

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 20, 2015
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Aug 12, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 12, 2015
• Journal: EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
• Print ISSN: 1752-4563
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 313-333
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eva.12341
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1397838