Parasitic food-borne and water-borne zoonoses

Estimates suggest that almost half of the population of the world is affect ed by water-borne and food-borne infections. Parasitic food-borne and water -borne zoonoses contribute to this statistic by inflicting a heavy tall on human health and causing serious direct and indirect losses to the agricult ural industry. The inability of non-industrialised countries to keep pace w ith population growth, migration from rural to urban areas and the demand f or clean, safe drinking water and proper sanitation means that water-borne zoonoses will continue to exact an increasing burden of ill health in these countries. The consumption of raw or undercooked meat, crustaceans, and fr esh-water fish and vegetables facilitates transmission of large numbers of zoonotic infections. The burgeoning tourist industry, emigration and the im portation of food from endemic regions has resulted in increasing diagnosis of these infections in non-endemic countries. The authors examine the epid emiology, medical and veterinary public health importance and recent develo pments in diagnosis, treatment and control of the most important parasitic food-borne and water-borne infections.