Are there any illnesses or diseases that can cross the species barrier into humans?

Question

Or can we transmit illnesses or diseases into animals other than ourselves?

Answer 1

The short answer is, yes. Mutation and adaptation (i.e. EVOLUTION) can result in pathogens crossing the species barrier, and infecting species that were previously unaffected.

This happens on a regular basis (every 10-20 years) with the influenza virus, which causes epidemics every time a new variant appears, as our immune systems are only prepared for the previous versions. Quite often the change in virulence is the result of the virus passing through another species, like pigeons or ducks, which is why people are worrying about 'bird flu' right now (again).

Another example is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is believed to be a mutant variant of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which originated in west African monkeys, and crossed to humans perhaps via a monkey bite (or some rather less savoury method).

Answer 2

There are several such diseases, called zoonoses when we catch them from another animal species.

Here are some examples:
Brucellosis and anthrax used to be commonly caught from cattle.

HIV is presumed to have entered the human population from wild monkeys, possibly via the route of chimpanzees.

variant-form CJD came from cattle with BSE.

Bubonic plague (the black death) came from rats.

We can also pass our bugs onto other animals, for example human flu viruses will infect pigs and ringworm (a fungal disease) is easily passed on to cats and horses among others.

Answer 3

yes, Bird Flu, even though it's not in every country.....yet, it's in some asian and indonesian countries such as Thai Land, Indonesia and others. Bird Flu (H5-N1) could become the next Global Pandemic for animals and humans. It can be transmitted through eating birds that are infected with it, or as simple as touching a bird infected and then touching you're mouth, once you're infected if anyone else breathes you're air or touches you, they will be infected too. Both animals and humans can get this and infect eachother.

Answer 4

The fowl flu impacts birds by way of fact purely the fowl cells have particular receptors on their cellular membranes that permit the virus to attach on, be carried interior, and attack the cellular. The virus can mutate and grow to be waiting to renowned receptors on human cells and then attack those cells. If a human comes into touch with a fowl with fowl flu and the virus gets into the human (regularly via physique secretions or unfavorable hygiene), the virus then has to mutate to stay alive and shop on.

Answer 5

Rabies
Malaria
Bird Flu
AIDs
West Nile Virus
Ebola

Answer 6

Rabies and West Nile are transferred to us from animals and birds respectively ,but going the other way ,check with a veterinarian

Answer 7

Yes, that's why you never kiss your dog, wash your hands after handling any animal and keep them out of the kitchen.

I read a book on parasites and other lovely things that animals can pass along to us.

Answer 8

Avian Flu, AIDS, rabies, Mad Cow Disease, West Nile Virus.....

Answer 9

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4169959

Check out this article. It says that human disease such as West Nile virus and AIDS etc have been passed to animals by humans.

Answer 10

Bird flu comes to mind, as does swine flu