Infectious Diseases Associated with Relation between Humans and Wildlife －Consideration on Wild Bird Mortality and Bird-Feeding

Abstract

ABSTRACT.　Recently, infectious diseases of wildlife occurred in conjunction with anthropogenic activities become critical problem and are considered associated with relation between humans and wildlife. Humans feed wildlife for various purposes such as just fun, tourist attractions, and conservation, although wildlife can live without our intense supports. Feeding wildlife can cause increase in population density of specific species at feeding sites, led to negative impact on ecological health such as changes of their behavioral ecology and loss of biodiversity. In addition, it can increase potential risk of infectious diseases and actually the outbreak of feeding-related incidents were recognized; highly pathogenic avian influenza in Hooded cranes in Izumi, Kagoshima, 2010 salmonellosis in Eurasian tree sparrows in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, winter 2008 - 2009 and avian pox in crows in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2006, considered associated with feeding for conservation, bird table, and garbage, respectively. Moreover congregation of wildlife at feeding sites may increase contact opportunities among them, and with other species, livestock, and humans, which increase risks for disease spread and spillover. For ecological health supporting lives of humans, livestock, and wildlife, epidemiological studies and biosecurity countermeasures on infectious diseases associated with relation between humans and wildlife.