PARASITOLOGY AND WILDLIFE EPIDEMIOLOGY: A ZOONOTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Parasitology and wildlife epidemiology is a vital subject of study in determining the spread of zoonotic diseases.  This study involved mixed-method experimental design which employed parasitological monitoring and genetic diagnostics to quantify the likelihood of sick odds between people and animals when the two entities came into contact with each other.  Field study of several ecotones showed that over 40 percent of some sentinel species possessed parasites and their severity of infection differed extensively about the type of habitat.  The presence of several zoonotic taxa confirmed by molecular identification included helminths and protozoa known to induce disease in human beings.  We modeled space using MaxEnt and kernel density and identified high-risk clusters that were associated with dense vegetation cover, high humidity, and indices of human disturbance. R 0 values measured in the hot spot’s locations exceeded 1.2.  Interviews in the community revealed that individuals are frequently exposed to wildlife, poach traditionally, and do not have a lot of information on the transmission of zoonotic diseases. This is congruent with quantitative factors of transmission risk.  It was through the One Health framework that ecological, biological, and social datasets were combined, thus allowing significant intervention locations to be identified. This demonstrated the significance of having monitoring and preventive methods that bring in the involvement of people in a multiplicity of fields.  The said results do not only allow individuals to comprehend the concept of zoonotic crossroads, but they also provide effective insights into how to manage animals, make public health policy, and prepare against new infectious diseases.