This textbook explores the diverse aspects of bacterial zoonotic infections. The book is divided into two sections wherein, Section I delves into the fundamental knowledge necessary to understand bacterial zoonotic infections. It covers topics such as bacterial taxonomy, host-parasite relationship, and the spectrum of clinical manifestations. The immunology of bacterial infections is explored, along with the fascinating field of bacterial genomics and proteomics. The section also addresses the epidemiology of bacterial zoonoses, highlighting their prevalence and distribution. Diagnosis of bacterial zoonoses and the crucial issue of zoonoses and antibacterial resistance are thoroughly discussed. Additionally, prevention, surveillance, and control measures for parasitic zoonoses are explored in detail.
Section II focuses specifically on bacterial zoonoses. Infections caused by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria are extensively covered. Readers will gain insights into various bacterial infections, including Staphylococcal and Streptococcal infections, Anthrax, Listeriosis, Erysipeloid, Dermatophilosis, and Rhodococcus infections among others. Notably, the book sheds light on zoonotic mycobacterial infections, spirochaetal infections such as Leptospirosis and Lyme Disease, and rickettsial infections like Spotted fever and Epidemic Typhus. Obligate intracellular bacterial zoonoses like Q-Fever, Psittacosis, Bartonellosis, and Ehrlichiosis are also covered. Furthermore, rare bacterial infections caused by Corynebacterium, Capnocytophaga, Trueperella pyogenes, Arcobacter, and Bordetella are explored.
Section III focuses on future perspectives while exploring broader implications and contemporary issues including role of microbiome in health and diseases, biosafety practices for handling of zoonotic pathognes, influence of geoclimatic changes on disease emergence and the economic impact of bacterial zoonotic infections.
With its comprehensive coverage and up-to-date information, this textbook serves as an essential resource for students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and individuals interested in understanding, diagnosing, and combating bacterial zoonotic infections.
Subhash Chandra Parija, MBBS, MD, PhD, DSc, FRCPath, was the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, a deemed-to-be university, Pondicherry, India, and is the Former Director of the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India. With nearly 45 years of teaching and research experience in the field of medical microbiology, he is a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) expert and has been consulted to draft guidelines on preventing foodborne parasites. He was on the MD examination boards at Colombo University, Sri Lanka; Sultan Qaboos University, Oman; and the University of Malaya, Malaysia. He received a DSc from Madras University for his contributions to the field of medical parasitology. He holds 1 granted patent, 1 published patent, 23 copyrights, and 1 technology transfer. He has authored or edited 19 books, including the most popular Textbook of Medical Microbiology &Immunology, Effective Medical Communication: The A, B, C, D, E of It, Textbook of Parasitic Zoonoses, and Textbook of Fungal Zoonoses and Sapronoses, all published by Springer. He has published more than 450 papers in reputable national and international journals. He has been honoured with more than 29 awards including the Medical Council of India’s Dr. B.C. Roy National Award and the National Academy of Medical Sciences’ Dr. P.N. Chuttani Oration Award. He founded the Indian Academy of Tropical Parasitology (IATP), the only professional organisation of medical parasitologists in India.
Abhijit Poddar, PhD, is an experienced policy expert and biotechnologist with over 15 years of experience promoting regulatory reforms in India and fostering South-South and North-South collaboration in health security. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the MGM Advanced Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pondicherry, India. In his current academic role, he has demonstrated significant leadership in institution building. He played a key role in establishing the MGM Advanced Research Institute, a Centre for Bio-Policy Research, a Virus Research and Diagnostic Lab (VRDL), and a Zebrafish facility for preclinical studies. His research interests are diverse, bridging applied wet-lab science with public policy. They include microbial biotechnology, the use of Zebrafish as a preclinical model, and a strong focus on the ‘One Health’ framework, covering biosecurity, pandemic preparedness, and the governance of emerging technologies relevant to zoonotic disease control. He has supervised PhD and MSc students and played a key role in designing innovative, future-ready courses in Biosecurity, Bio-entrepreneurship, and One Health, pioneering pedagogical methods such as tabletop exercises. He has published extensively, with more than 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, including IJSEM, Lancet Global Health, Nature Pediatric Research, and Health Security; holds two Indian patents; and has contributed to numerous national policy documents.
