Animal-borne diseases/infections are those which can be naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans. Approximately 75% of recently emerging diseases affecting humans are diseases of animal origin. Many factors like environmental changes, human and animal demography, pathogen changes and changes in farming practice lead to the emergence of animal-borne diseases. Social and cultural factors such as food habits and religious beliefs play a role in the emergence of animal-borne diseases.
- Rabies - Rabies is a disease caused by a virus. It affects the brain and spinal cord. Rabies can cause death if left untreated. Rabies in people is very rare in the United States, but rabies in animals -- especially wildlife -- is common in most parts of the country, including Maine.
- Ebola/Viral Hemorrhagic Fever - Ebola is a disease caused by ebola viruses. Ebola viruses spread through direct contact with the body fluids (including blood, sweat, vomit, feces) of an ill or dead person infected with ebola virus.
- Anthrax - Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. It occurs naturally in soil around the world. It can infect people, domestic animals, and wild animals.
- Brucellosis - Brucellosis is a disease caused by Brucella bacteria. People can get brucellosis from infected animals or contaminated animal products. Both domestic animals (dogs, cats, livestock, etc.) and wild animals can have brucellosis.
- Q fever - Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, a species of bacteria that is distributed globally. Q fever usually spreads when a person breathes in dust containing the dried wastes of infected animals. Direct contact with infected animals and their blood, feces, urine, soiled bedding, and raw milk can also cause infection.
- Trichinosis - Trichinosis, also called Trichinellosis, is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat of animals infected with the larvae of a species of worm called Trichinella. Infection occurs commonly in certain wild carnivorous (meat-eating) animals but may also occur in domestic pigs.
- Hantavirus (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome) - Hantaviruses are a group of viruses mainly carried by certain rodents. In the United States this includes some rats and mice. Hantavirus infection can cause different syndromes.
- Leptospirosis - Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Leptospira. The bacteria can be found in urine and bodily fluids of infected animals. Leptospirosis spreads by touching urine and bodily fluids of infected animals and through drinking or touching contaminated water or soil.
- Plague - Plague is a disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. The bacteria is usually found in rodents and the fleas that bite them. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form and the only one that can spread between people.
- Psittacosis - Psittacosis is an infection caused by bacteria. This disease is also known as Ornithosis or Parrot Fever and is most commonly associated with pet birds. Psittacosis spreads by breathing in droppings or respiratory secretions from infected birds. Person to person spread is rare.
- Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease - Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare and fatal brain disorder. CJD is caused by a type of protein called a prion. Prion proteins occur in both a normal form, which is a harmless protein found in the body's cells, and in an infectious form, which causes disease. Prion diseases can be found in human and in animals.
- Tularemia - Tularemia is a potentially serious illness that occurs naturally in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis found in animals (especially rodents, rabbits, and hares).