CLASSIFICATION OF ZOONOSES

1. BASED ON NATURE OF RESERVOIRS

Anthropozoonoses: Zoonotic diseases primarily transmitted from the lower vertebrate

animals to human beings. Examples: Rabies, Anthrax, Brucellosis etc.

Zooanthroponoses: Zoonotic diseases transmitted from human beings to the lower vertebrate
animals. Examples: Amoebiosis (Entamoeba histolytica), Diphtheria infection, Schistosoma
mansoni, Hymenolepsis nana

Amphixenoses: Zoonotic diseases which may be transmitted in either direction, i.e., human
beings to animals or animals to human beings called amphixenotic diseases. Examples:
Staphylococcal infection, Streptococcal infection, Salmonellosis

2. BASED ON EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES

(LIFE CYCLE / MAINTENANCE / MODE OF TRANSMISSION)

1. Direct zoonoses:
Zoonotic diseases transmitted directly from the infected to the susceptible host by
contact, vehicle or mechanically by a vector, without undergoing any development or
propagation in the course of transmission are classified under direct zoonoses. A zoonotic
pathogen requires only single vertebrate host species for their completion of life cycle.

Examples: Bovine brucellosis : by contact

Anthrax: by contact and touch
Rabies : by bite

Direct zoonoses can be any one of the following type

a) Direct-anthropozoonoses
b) Direct-zooanthroponoses
c) Direct-amphixenoses
(a). Direct-anthropozoonoses: The lower vertebrates (domestic and wild animals) are the
reservoir hosts for many infectious zoonotic pathogens and these reservoirs transmit infections
to the human beings by accidental exposures or direct contact with infected population or
contaminated materials.
Examples: Rabies, Brucellosis
(b). Direct-zooanthroponoses: Zoonotic diseases transmitted from human beings to the lower
vertebrate animals by direct contact with infected person or contaminated materials.
Examples: Diphtheria, Tuberculosis
(c). Direct-amphixenoses: Zoonotic diseases maintained in nature either in animal population
or in human population are transmitted in both directions by direct contact with infected
population or contaminated materials.
Examples: Streptococcosis, Staphylococcosis

2. Cyclozoonoses

The disease requires more than one vertebrate host to complete the life cycle, but
invertebrate host is not involved. Depending upon the involvement of human being it may be
obligatory cyclozoonoses or non-obligatory cyclozoonoses.
Examples: Hydatidosis, Bovine cysticercosis
(a). Obligatory cyclozoonoses
In obligatory cyclozoonoses, agents require essentially a human being for completion of
their life cycle. Example: Taeniasis (Taenia saginata and T.solium) – measly beef and
measly pork
(b). Non-obligatory cyclozoonoses
In non-obligatory cyclozoonoses, agents require man's involvement as accidental or not
essential for completion of their life cycle.
Example: Hydatidosis (Echinococcus granulosus).

3. Metazoonoses:

Those diseases that are transmitted by the invertebrate hosts (biological vectors) in
which the causative agent multiplies (propagative) or develops (developmental) or both
(cyclopropagative). It requires both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts for their completion
of life cycle.

Examples: Schistosomiosis, Fascioliosis, Trypanosomiosis, Filariasis.

Depending upon the number of hosts required for the completion of life cycle there are
four subclasses of metazoonoses.
a). Metazoonoses subtype I: It requires one vertebrate and one invertebrate host for the
completion of an etiology’s life cycle. Example: Yellow fever, in which jungle cycle or
sylvatic cycle and urban cycle requires a monkey or a man and a mosquito Aedes aegypti.,
Trypanosomiasis, Schistosomiasis etc.
(b). Metazoonoses subtype II: It requires one vertebrate and two invertebrate hosts for
the completion of an etiology’s life cycle. Example: Paragonimiasis
Wild animals ----- Snail------Crabs-------Wild animals
(Definative host) (Ist I.H) (2nd I.H) (D.H)
(c).Metazoonoses subtype III: It requires two vertebrate and one invertebrate hosts for the
completion of an etiology’s life cycle. Example: Eastern equine encephalitis
(d). Metazoonoses subtype IV: It is the type of transovarian life cycle of zoonotic pathogen
in ticks and transmission to human beings. Example: Tick-borne encephalitis (Louping ill)

4. Saprozoonoses

The diseases which require a non-animal objects like soil, plants, organic matter,
water, foods, etc. to serve as a true reservoir of infection or as site for an essential phase of
development. The etiological agent may develop (Histoplasmosis) or propagate (Ancylostoma
brazilliense) or develop and propagate (cyclopropagative - Fascioliasis) in the inanimate
(fomites) objects. Examples: Visceral larval migrans, cutaneous larval migrans, fascioliosis

Based on the direction of spread it may be classified into three sub-classes, such as
Sapro-anthropozoonoses (Propagative , Histoplasmosis )
Sapro-amphixenoses(Development only, Ancylostoma brazilliense)
Sapro-meta-anthrapozoonoses. (Both propagative and development, Fascioliosis)

3. BASED ON ANIMALS INVOLVED

Wild animal zoonoses: Infections transmitted from wild animals like elephants, non-human
primates, fox, wild boar to human beings.

Examples: Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), Rabies

Pet animal zoonoses: Infections transmitted from pet animals like dogs, cats, love birds to
human beings.

Examples: Toxoplasmosis, Ringworm infection, Psittacosis/Ornithosis

Lab animal zoonoses: Infections transmitted from lab animals like guinea pigs, rats, mice,
rabbits to human beings.

Example: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis

Fish-borne zoonoses: Infections transmitted from fish and processed fish products to human
beings.

Examples: Salmon poisoning

4. BASED ON PHYSICAL CONDITION

Urban zoonoses: Infections which are commonly prevalent in urban areas and transmitted from
animals to human beings.

Examples: Rabies, Abattoir's infections, Anthrax, Leptospirosis, Tuberculosis

Rural zoonoses: Infections which are commonly prevalent in rural areas and transmitted from
animals to human beings.

Examples: Brucellosis, Schistosomiosis, Worm infestations

Occupational zoonoses: Infections which are transmitted from animals to human beings by
nature of their occupation.

Examples: Wool sorter's disease, Sugarcane worker's disease, Rice field worker’s
disease
5. BASED ON TYPE OF TRANSMISSION

Skin, hide and hair-borne zoonoses: Infections which are transmitted by contact with skin, hide
and hair of infected animals to human beings. Example: Anthrax

Meat-borne zoonoses: Infections which are transmitted by contact or consumption of meat

and meat products from infected animals to human beings.

Examples: Tuberculosis, Trichinellosis, Leptospirosis

Milk-borne zoonoses: Infections which are transmitted through consumption of milk and milk
products from infected animals to human beings.

Examples: Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Campylobacteriosis

Food-borne zoonoses: Infections which are transmitted through consumption of foods of animal
origin or foods of plant origin contaminated with the secretions and or excretion of infected
animals to human beings.

Examples: Salmonellosis, Streptococcosis, Staphylococcosis

Vector-borne zoonoses

Mechanical: Infectious pathogens are carried mechanically by invertebrate host and

transmitted to the human beings. Examples: Anthrax, Colibacillosis
Biological: Infectious pathogen undergoes some biological transformation before infecting the
human.
 Developmental: If essential development of the agent takes place
in or on the vector. Example: Dirofilaria immitis in mosquitoes.
 Propagative: If the agent multiplies in the vector before being
injected into the host. Example: plague, yellow fever.
 Cyclo-propagative: If the agent undergoes development and
multiplication in the vector before being injected into the host.
Example: Trypanosoma cruzi in bugs.
Trans-ovarian: The infection may be transmitted in vectors vertically from one generation to
the next generation before being injected into the host.
 Examples: Rift valley fever, West Nile fever
Trans-stadial: The infection may be transmitted in vectors from stage to stage before being
injected into the host.
6. BASED ON ETIOLOGY

Viral zoonoses: Transmission of viral diseases from animals to human beings.

Examples: Rabies, Milker’s nodules, Ranikhet disease, viral conjunctivitis, etc.

Bacterial zoonoses: Transmission of bacterial diseases from animals to human beings.
Examples: Anthrax, Tuberculosis, Brucellosis

Parasitic zoonoses: Transmission of parasitic diseases from animals to human beings.

Examples: Trichinellosis, Visceral larval migrans, Cutaneous larval migrans, Hydatidosis

Mycotic/Fungal zoonoses: Transmission of fungal diseases from animals to human beings.

Examples: Tinea/ringworm infection, Aspergillosis

Rickettsial zoonoses: Transmission of rickettsial diseases from animals to human beings.

Example: Q-Fever, Epidemic typhus, Scrub typhus, Rocky mountain spotted fever
Protozoan zoonoses: Transmission of protozoal diseases from animals to human beings.

Examples: Trypanosomiasis, Leishmaniasis