Pathogen–host–environment interplay and disease emergence

Engering, Anneke; Hogerwerf, Lenny; Slingenbergh, Jan

Drivers of EIDs can be defined as the underlying causal factors of emergence. 2 In 1992, Lederberg et al. 11 listed a set of 'specific forces that shape infectious disease emergence' in humans. Subsequent authors adapted and/or expanded these lists of drivers and even proposed ranking of drivers according to incidence. 2, 4, 11, 13 Drivers shaping emergence in domestic animals and wildlife are analogous to the drivers for EIDs in humans. 14 Notably, changes of anthropogenic nature are at the basis of virtually all EIDs in humans, domestic animals and wildlife. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] Human population growth and economic development have translated in a growing need for land, water and energy, and thus created a global set of more proximate drivers of disease emergence including deforestation and associated biodiversity loss, climate change, imbalances in agricultural and food supply systems, increases in travel, trade and traffic and a persistence of poor health systems and protection practices.