Open AccessHitchhiking microbes: Declining biodiversity & emerging zoonoses
Author(s) -
Gurudas Nulkar,
Madhura Bedarkar,
Ketaki Ghate,
Sakshi Nulkar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
indian journal of medical research
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.578
H-Index - 87
ISSN - 0971-5916
DOI - 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_620_21
Subject(s) - biodiversity , thriving , ecosystem , convention on biological diversity , diversity (politics) , ecology , natural resource economics , geography , global biodiversity , neglected tropical diseases , human health , environmental resource management , biology , socioeconomics , public health , environmental health , political science , medicine , economics , sociology , social science , nursing , law
The connection between nature conservation and human wellbeing is well known, however, the role of declining biodiversity and emerging diseases is relatively less studied. The presence of a thriving biological diversity is known to have therapeutic effects on human health. On the other hand, human economic activities have contributed to a sharp decline in species, resulting in poor ecosystem health. Several studies have shown how microorganisms have switched from animals to humans, leading to novel diseases. This review describes studies on zoonotic diseases and biodiversity, with examples from India. It is argued that conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems and changes in economic activities must be made to ward off new diseases, and why cooperation between ministries is critical to restrict the decline of biological diversity in a megadiverse country like India.