Role of Birds in Transmitting Zoonotic Pathogens

Zoonotic diseases pose a serious threat to global health and economy. Domestic and wild birds play crucial roles in transmission and spread of important zoonotic pathogens, with significant implications on human and avian health. Although zoonotic diseases have been extensively studied, information on various aspects of avian zoonotic pathogens have not been revisited or revised to any great extent. This book is a comprehensive and updated compilation of important zoonotic diseases that are transmitted by domestic and wild birds, and consists of 21 chapters that meticulously describe the (i) etiology and evolution, (ii) complex epidemiology, such as migration pathways in context of disease transmission, (iii) pathogenesis, (iv) clinical signs and necropsy findings, (v) diagnostics including latest molecular assays, and (vi) preventative and control strategies, with an emphasis on therapeutics and prophylaxis, of important zoonotic pathogens (bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral) of avian origin in humans and birds. Each chapter is aptly supported by interactive tables and figures, and features an updated reference section. This book aims to create awareness and enlighten students of veterinary and human medicine on the role of birds in zoonoses, and would serve as a useful reference for working veterinarians, human doctors, and public health experts.

Prof (Dr) Yashpal Singh Malik is serving as Dean, College of Animal Biotechnology at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab (India) and previously he served as ICAR-National Fellow at Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India. He works in viral disease epidemiology, virus-host interactions, microbial biodiversity, characterization, and diagnosis of pathogens. Prof Malik has acquired advanced training in Molecular Virology from University of Minnesota, the USA; Division of Virology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan, China. He is a recipient of several prestigious National, State and Academy awards and honors including ICAR-Jawaharlal Nehru Award. He has supervised 5 Ph.D. and 17 M.V.Sc. students. Has authored 5 books, 25 book chapters, and published 217 scientific research and review articles. Dr Malik has been the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Immunology Immunopathology. He has also edited special issues of Springer’s journal “VirusDisease”, Bentham’s journal “Journal of Current Drug Metabolism” on emerging thematic areas. Prof Malik is editing Springer’s book series on Livestock Diseases and Management as "Series Editor". 

Dr A. Arun Prince Milton, is currently serving as a Scientist (Veterinary Public Health) in the Division of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, ICAR Research Complex for NEH region, Umiam, Meghalaya under Indian council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He has fine experience in carrying out research programmes related to zoonoses and food safety. Dr. Milton has published over 45 scientific research articles in the field of zoonoses, food microbiology, and epidemiology of important animal diseases in various peer-reviewed, indexed international and national journals. He has also published 10 book chapters in books published by reputed publishers like Springer, Taylor and Francis, etc. He has also presented various research papers in national and international conferences. He is a recipient of number of prestigious awards including Mahendra Pal Zoonoses Award, Sir. F.M. Burnett Memorial Award, Dr. C.M. Singh National Award of Excellence, Young Researcher Award, etc. Currently, he is studying rodent- and foodborne zoonoses, and developing diagnostics for important foodborne pathogens.

Dr Sandeep Ghatak, is currently serving as Principal Scientist (Veterinary Public Health) in the Division of Animal and Fisheries Sciences, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya under Indian council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). He is experienced in research on zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Ghatak has published over 40 scientific research articles in the field of zoonoses, food microbiology, antimicrobial resistance and epidemiology of important animal diseases in various peer-reviewed, international and national journals. He has also published 6 book chapters in books published by reputed publishers like Springer, Taylor and Francis, etc. He has also presented various research papers and invited lectures in national and international conferences. He received post-doctoral training in United States Department of Agriculture. Currently he is involved in research on genomic epidemiology of animal and foodborne diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

Dr Souvik Ghosh, BVSc & AH (Gold Medalist), MVSc, PhD, is a professor of infectious diseases, director of the One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, and course director of DVM Virology at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), an AVMA accredited vet school in St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies. Dr Ghosh’s research focuses on molecular epidemiology, genetic diversity, and interspecies transmission of animal and human viruses. He has published 99 research papers and review articles in peer-reviewed biomedical journals with over 2400 citations so far. Dr Ghosh serves as the section editor of Archives of Medical Science and Frontiers in Microbiology, review editor of Frontiers in Veterinary Sciences, and in editorial board of Pathogens (MDPI) and Epidemiologia (MDPI). He is a member of the ICTV Picobirnaviridae study group, distinguished member of the World Society for Virology, and fellow of Indian Virological Society. He was involved in research capacity building and training in tropical countries. Because of his contributions to teaching, he received twice the CARE award from RUSVM.