Infectious diseases originated from wildlife as an environmental issue

Abstract

Zoonoses of wildlife origin are estimated to account for more than 75% of emerging infectious diseases. They are understood as an environmental problem, with ecosystem disturbance and degradation, land use change, and climate change analyzed as significant drivers of the spread of pathogens among wildlife species and between animals and humans. Today, since the world is united by human flows and logistics, the risk of infectious disease pandemics is extremely high. Therefore, there are high expectations for the control of spillover of new infectious diseases through a one-health approach that comprehensively addresses humans, animals, and the environment (ecosystem). Research has provided significant results regarding reservoir animals, the process of pathogen spillover, and infectious disease hotspots. However, research on solving environmental problems, which is essential for risk reduction, especially research on ecology-based countermeasures, has lagged. Based on the symposium in the 69th Ecological Society of Japan Convention, this special issue aims to deepen future discussions on the addition of a one-health perspective to wildlife management, exotic mammals and infectious diseases, health hazards caused by conflicts between wildlife and people, and policies and institutions for these issues, while introducing relevant researches.