What Diseases Can Humans Transmit to Animals? And Other Emerging Infectious Diseases with Dr. Tony Goldberg
"What diseases can I catch from my dog?" You've probably heard someone ask that question before. In fact, you may have even contemplated or researched it for yourself. But what diseases can we give to animals? In the wake of chimpanzee respiratory disease outbreaks, Giardia transmission in African wild dogs, and human MRSA transmission to animals, reverse zoonosis (diseases humans pass to animals) is important to discuss. Compared to classic zoonotic disease transmission (animals to humans), reverse zoonosis is a far less researched topic but that is changing thanks to the tireless research by a team of researchers dedicated to protecting the health of all species.
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Tony Goldberg, a veterinary epidemiologist that doggedly pursues and fights infectious disease. This is a discussion that covers past, present, and future research on emerging diseases including a discussion on reverse zoonosis. We cover a lot of ground and our dialogue quickly transitions between different species. Preventing infectious disease lays the groundwork for our conversation and we expand to how our current understanding will lead to better methods of disease prevention. Although, the focus of this episode is centered on dangerous pathogens, it's undergirded by the beauty and depth of the human-animal bond along with the ecosystems that we all share. By understanding our role in combating infectious disease, we can protect all species from the spread of these deadly microorganisms and help further the One Health initiative.
BIO:
My work focuses on the ecology, epidemiology and evolution of infectious disease, combining field and laboratory studies to understand how pathogens in dynamic ecosystems are transmitted among hosts, across complex landscapes, and over time. My overall goal is to discover generalized mechanisms that govern pathogen transmission, evolution, and emergence, and to improve the health of animals and humans while helping to conserve the rapidly changing ecosystems we share.