The domestication of cattle and dogs provide an important link to the evolution of new diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans, a new study finds.
It is often said that wild animals play an important role in the transmission of diseases from animals to humans. However, researchers from the University of Liverpool found that the domestication of pets and livestock might provide an important link to the evolution of new diseases that are transmitted between animals and humans.
For the study, researchers analysed data from the Liverpool ENHanCEd Infectious Diseases (EID2) database. They also cross-referenced all known cases of parasites and pathogens in domestic animals considering the amount of time since they have been domesticated.
Researchers noted that in the 17,000 years that dogs have been domesticated, 71 shared parasites and pathogens were discovered. Similarly, 34 shared parasites and pathogens have accumulated in cattle during the 11,000 years of domestication.
"We don't have enough knowledge of how new diseases get from wildlife into humans," said Dr Marie McIntyre, lead author of the study, in a statement. "This study shows that domesticated animals can play an important role in the process and that diseases have been shared in this way for thousands of years."
Researchers also noted that information from the database confirmed that change in climate was also largely responsible for many diseases that were transmitted between animal and humans.
"Using data in this way can help us address the major threat of new diseases and the spread of existing diseases caused by climate change," McIntyre said. "Vast amounts of research are being carried out in this field, yet it isn't easy to search or draw patterns from it. As with this research into domestic animals, a database can help by bringing huge amounts of evidence together in one place."
Previously, the same team provided a report on how the travel and socialisation patterns of people in Southern China can give greater insight into how new diseases such as bird flu may spread between populations.
