Zoonotic Diseases and Phytochemical Medicines for Microbial Infections in Veterinary Science: Current State and Future Perspective

Shin, Bora; Park, Woojun

Leptospira is an endemic bacterium in many domestic and wild animals that spreads through urine (28) and causes leptospirosis in humans and animals through contact with urine-contaminated water or soil. Thus, leptospirosis occurs in both humans and animals, including livestock and marine mammals (28) . It is one of the most common and severe human infections worldwide. In addition, it can cause a variety of symptoms in animals and humans, some of which can be mistaken for other diseases. Further, some infected animals and humans may act as a source of infection without symptoms (29) . Leptospirosis is generally limited to developing countries and has been reported as an imported disease in industrialized countries (28) . Leptospirosis can cause fever, meningitis, kidney damage, respiratory distress, liver failure, and even death if it causes severe complications (30) . Coinfections with common endemic bacteria that cause acute febrile illnesses (e.g., salmonellosis), can be a diagnostic dilemma if symptoms overlap (31) . For example, Salmonella 1 can enter the bloodstream and infect the spine through gastric mucosal vasculitis, which may be caused by Leptospira (30) .