Potential Pathogens Reported in Species of the Family Viverridae and Their Implications for Human and Animal Health

Wicker, L. V.; Canfield, P. J.; Higgins, D. P.

In addition to the potential significance for viverrid and other animal health, many of the organisms listed for Viverridae raise concerns for human health. Wild species are a common source or carrier of zoonotic pathogens (Wolfe et al., 2005; Jones et al., 2008) , and there is a growing interest in understanding the host, pathogen and external (environmental and anthropogenic) factors that facilitate their transmission from wild animals to people and other animals (Bengis et al., 2004; Woolhouse and Gowtage-Sequeria, 2005; Greger, 2007; Chomel, 2008; Rhyan and Spraker, 2010) . The vast majority of organisms reported here for viverrids have the capacity to infect a wide range of species a characteristic which, while common amongst pathogens in general -91% of all domestic carnivore pathogens infect more than one host (Cleaveland et al., 2001 )is of concern as it is a significant risk factor for outbreak of disease (Cleaveland et al., 2001; Greger, 2007) . Given the prevalence of multihost organisms reported for viverrids, particularly those with zoonotic potential, an examination of the factors bringing these forest dwelling mammals into unnaturally close proximity with humans is warranted. For the Viverridae, these include the trades (legal and illegal) in wildlife for human consumption, keeping of viverrids in captivity (wildlife farms, zoos or rescue centres), and human contact with free-ranging viverrids in areas where human and viverrid habitation overlap, or from human incursion into wild spaces.