Zoonoses are diseases and infections that are transmitted between vertebrate
animals and humans. Infections can be inconvenient or life-threatening and may
be transmitted by companion animals, agricultural animals, or by foods. Since
contact with animals is commonplace all healthcare professionals should have an
understanding of the importance, diagnosis and treatment of zoonotic infections.
In recent years, since the publication of the first edition of Zoonoses, there
has been a much greater awareness of the dangers that food borne diseases such
as E.Coli, BSE, etc. can pose to human health as a result of poor agricultural,
hygiene or regulatory practices. In addition, the transmission of animal borne
respiratory viruses