More than two-thirds of emerging infectious diseases have their origins in animals. Examples of zoonotic diseases or zoonoses (diseases transmitted between animals and humans) include Zika virus, Ebola virus, avian flu, SARS, MERS, West Nile virus, Lyme disease and yellow fever.
Many common foodborne infections caused by Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter and other pathogens also have their origins in animals and are a major cause of disease globally.
Global disease experts have recognized that a One Health approach is critical to addressing the growing threat from emerging zoonotic diseases.
This is because many of the drivers of zoonotic disease outbreaks in humans and animals relate to environmental changes such as deforestation, agriculture intensification, biodiversity loss and climate-induced flooding and droughts.
The UW Center for One Health Research (COHR) is actively engaged in research to better understand zoonotic diseases across human, animal and environmental sectors to find better ways to detect, treat and prevent these emerging disease threats.
Our research includes:
Landscape risk for zoonotic disease outbreaks
COHR scientist Julianne Meisner PhD BVMS is leading a project to use artificial intelligence to detect potential hotspots for zoonotic disease outbreaks in Washington State . This will include using results of spatial mapping and remote sensing to characterize changing land use patterns and their impact on disease risk.
Transmission of Brucella between humans and animals
Despite efforts to control this disease with vaccines and treatments, brucellosis continues to pose a major global health threat. It is a particular risk to people who work closely with livestock and communities with higher consumption of unpasteurized dairy projects. A new COHR project will use whole genome sequencing techniques to track the spread of brucellosis in animal and human populations.
Genomic techniques to track the spread of vector borne disease as well as the role of animal hosts in the spread and evolution of emerging viruses.
COHR is a partner in the UW United World Antiviral Research (UWARN) Center https://cerid.uw.edu/research/uwarn, one of the NIH funded Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Disease (CREID) network. Through UWARN, COHR is collaborating in research to determine how and why viruses spread by vectors such as ticks and mosquitoes are spreading globally.
Transmission of emerging infections between pets and people
COHR completed the COVID and Pets Study (CAPS) exploring the transmission of SARS Co-V2 between infected people and animals sharing living spaces with them. This collaboration with the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory revealed evidence of substantial transmission of the virus between people and their pets, and identified some potential prevention strategies.