Classification of zoonoses
More than 300 zoonoses of diverse etiologies are recognized. Thus, a very large number of zoonoses call for classification, especially for teaching purposes.
Classification according to etiological agents
- Bacterial zoonoses e.g., anthrax, brucellosis, plague, salmonellosis, etc.
- Viral zoonoses e.g., rabies, influenza, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, etc.
- Rikettsial zoonoses e.g., Q-fever, typhus fever, etc.
- Fungal zoonoses e.g., cryptococcosis, candidiasis, ringworms, etc.
- Protozoal zoonoses e.g., toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, trypanomiasis, etc.
- Helminthic zoonoses e.g., echinococcosis (hydatid disease), taeniasis, guineaworm infection, etc.
- Ectoparasitic zoonoses e.g., scabies, myiasis, etc.
- Zoonoses caused by unconventional agents (Prions) e.g., transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (TSE, Mad cow disease), etc.