Shared infections at the wildlife–livestock interface and their impact on public health, economy, and biodiversity

Abstract

• Shared infections at the livestock–wildlife interface are of major concern to public health, economy, and biodiversity. • Over 20% of global animal production losses are caused by animal diseases. • Factors such as exponential growth in animal and human populations, rapid urbanization, evolving farming systems, increased interaction of livestock and wildlife, ecosystem changes, globalization of animal and animal product trade, and shifts in pathogen–host ecology contribute to the emergence of new disease interfaces. • The spread of shared infectious diseases in any interface is influenced by multiple factors and can occur within communities with a complex structure, often with many hosts involved in infections transmission dynamics. • One Health focused collaborative efforts involving multiple disciplines can be effective in improving health of animal, human, and environment in general.