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Infectious Diseases and the Illegal Wildlife Trade
Author(s) -
Gómez Andrés,
Aguirre A. Alonso
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1428.046
Subject(s) - wildlife , wildlife trade , human health , wildlife disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , geography , biology , one health , environmental health , disease , business , ecology , medicine , public health , nursing , pathology
We provide a compilation of pathogens directly associated with illegally traded wildlife. We find that these pathogens span the gamut of taxonomic origins, affect most vertebrate taxa, and can have negative consequences for human and animal health and the global economy. Significantly, published health assessments of illegally traded wild animals are extremely scarce, making the results of this survey an underestimation of the true extent of the problem. Concerted action aimed at preventing further negative health effects is warranted.