Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050: Livestock and viral emerging infectious diseases

Otte, J.; Heilmann, M.;  Pica-Ciamarra, U.;

Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050: Livestock and viral emerging infectious diseases

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 15 p.

Author Otte, J.; Heilmann, M.; Pica-Ciamarra, U.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Policy brief

ISBN 978-92-5-136917-3

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) A majority of virus species capable of infecting humans are zoonotic and have wildlife and/or arthropod reservoirs. The current narrative on preventing the next pandemic thus stresses the role of wildlife in the emergence of human infectious diseases. The emphasis on wildlife, while warranted, appears to underappreciate the role livestock plays in the emergence and spread of virus diseases affecting humans. Although livestock are reservoir hosts for a minority of the zoonotic virus species, they may be susceptible to infection and thereby act as bridge-hosts. Given the frequency of livestock-wildlife and subsequent livestock-human interactions, indirect transmission of zoonotic viruses from wildlife to humans via livestock provides and important pathway for disease emergence. This paper examines extent to which mammalian livestock have been found to be susceptible to infection with zoonotic viruses and thereby have the potential to contribute to within and cross species virus propagation. Evidence of infection in mammalian genera representing the main livestock species could be found for close to half (46.1%) of the 267 zoonotic virus species in our dataset. A better understanding of multi-host virus sharing pathways is needed to support efforts to mitigate EIZD threats.

Cite this content as:

Otte, J., Heilmann, M. & Pica-Ciamarra, U. 2022. Livestock and viral emerging infectious diseases. Africa Sustainable Livestock, 2050. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc2160en

Language English

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