Zoonotic Infections: The Role of Biofilms

Abstract

A zoonosis or zoonose is any infectious disease that can be transmitted from non-human animals, both wild and domestic, to humans. Infectious diseases transmitted fromhumans to non-human animals is sometimes called reverse zoonosis or anthroponosis. Sixty one percent of the pathogens known to affect humans are zoonotic. Biofilmformation is used as amechanismby zoonotic and environmen- tal pathogens to infect animals and humans. It has been suggested that biofilms are involved in 65–80% of infections treated by doctors in developed countries. Microorganisms can resist extreme temperatures, antibiotic treatments and lowlevels of nutrients by forming biofilms.Therefore the selection of the right antibiotics to treat human and animal infections caused by biofilms is paramount. It is apparent that more research into biofilm infections in humans and animals, biofilm resistance mechanisms and new strategies for effective treatment need to be developed.