Prevalence of Zoonotic Diseases in Bangladesh

Jahangir Alam, Md. Tuhinur Rahman

Abstract:

Zoonotic diseases (Zoonoses) are infectious diseases of animals that can naturally be transmitted to humans. The results of the prevalence and effects of zoonotic diseases in humans and animals of Bangladesh are analyzed from the published literatures and presented here. It appears from the literature that there are about 1415 human pathogens of which 61% are zoonotic. The major zoonotic bacterial diseases recorded in Bangladesh are Anthrax, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Salmonellosis, Campylobacteriosis and Leptospirosis. During the period 2009 to 2012, anthrax caused death of hundreds of cattle and more than 650 cases of cutaneous anthrax in humans including fatalities in two humans associated with anthrax. The major reported viral zoonotic diseases in Bangladesh include Avian influenza, Rabies, Nipah virus infection, Japanese encephalitis, Rotavirus and Dengue fever. Avian influenza is caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 in humans and poultry in Bangladesh and about seven humans affected with H5N1 but all of them have recovered. Rabies is considered as a prior zoonosis in Bangladesh and it is mainly transmitted to humans and food animals mainly through dog bite. Nearly 100,000 people had been infected and at least 2000 died of rabies in 2009 in Bangladesh. Nipah virus infection is an important emerging infectious disease has been recognized since 2001 in Bangladesh. The dermatomycosis has been reported in 9.3% cattle, 18.6% goats and 25.2% in contact humans. The major zoonotic parasites recorded in cats in Bangladesh include Paragonimus westermani (9.09%), Dirofilaria immitis (9.09%), in dogs include Diphyllobothrium latum (13.3%), Diphylidium caninum (16.69%), Echinococcus granulosus (9.17%), Ancylostomum caninum (9-100%). The prevalence of zoonotic protozoan diseases recorded in humans in Bangladesh include amebiasis (E. histolytica 4.71%), giardiasis (21% in children & 51% in malnourished children), cryptosporidiasis and visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar). This study along with adequate veterinary public health (VPH) action can be helpful for prevention and control of these zoonoses. “One Health” concept for control of zoonotic diseases will may be a great weapon to reduce the both human and animal health hazards.

Keywords:

Animals, Bacterial, Birds, Fungal, One Health, Zoonotic diseases

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