The Zoönoses is defined as any disease or infection that is naturally transferred between vertebrate animals and people. These diseases can be caused by various contagious agents, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, and are an important challenge for the public health of the world.
Weld Zoönoses are particularly relevant because of their ability to spread quickly and give rise to epidemic outbreaksAs observed in the case of the Ebola virus, the bird flu or the Covid-19.
Weld zoonosis They can be classified according to their transmission mode:
- Direct zoonosis: Transmission that occurs through direct contact with an infected animal are body fluids or tissues. Examples are anger and brucellosis.
- Indirect zoonosis: It occurs through a vector, such as mosquitoes or ticks, who transport the infectious agent from the animal to humans. Examples are yellow fever and Lyme disease.
- Food sonosis: Transmission due to contaminated food consumption, such as meat or non -patioized milk. Examples are toxoplasmosis and salmonellose.
Research work into zoonosis
The Junta de Andalucía, the University of Córdoba and the Biomedical Research Foundation of Córdoba have the Andalusian Center for Research of Zoönoses and emerging diseases (Caizem)With the constitution of its board of administrative council and the appointment of her first director.
The Ministry of University, Research and Innovation has adopted the presidency of the Council, who, during the first meeting, appointed director of the same as the Professor at the University of Córdoba María Ángeles Risalde, with extensive experience in research into this type of disease.
This is the first center of these characteristics that is launched in Spain and was born with the aim of becoming a national reference in research that has been applied toL Control and prevention of emerging diseases from the ‘One Health’ approach (a single health).
«Caizem is the first center of these characteristics in Spain, where four councils and consumption, agriculture, fishing, water and rural development, sustainability and the environment, research and innovation shake the UCO hand to develop an investigation of excellence that should be translated into a transfer of knowledge and into a Applicability for the prevention and control of emerging and zoorotic diseases“, Said Gómez Villamandos.
This institutional cooperation model responds to the urgent need to generate useful knowledge to anticipate, to monitor and respond to transferable diseases between animals and people. The Integra Caizem Field professionals such as medicine, veterinary, public health, biology, agronomic engineering and the environment, and focuses on activity from an integral and multidisciplinary perspective.
The center is will focus on basic research into zoonosis, innovation in diagnostic and surveillance instruments and the development of rapid response strategiesIn addition to offering technical support and knowledge transfer to administrations, companies and other agents of the health and knowledge system.
Caizem is a pioneer in Spain
In that sense, Gómez Villamandas explained that The geographical situation of Andalusia, the proximity of Africa and the fact that there have ports where animals from other continents arrive“They make this center the need that the UCO collected more than 30 years ago and that is now a reality, after the signature in 2022 of a protocol for his creation between the board and the academic institution of Cordoba.”
The university councilor therefore explained that Caizem will develop three lines of research. The first is the fundamental research to «to generate knowledge aimed at evaluating the risks of This transmission -Diseases due to zoonosis, to study the interaction between the pathogen and the hostTo set up new therapeutic and preventive strategies, and also the maintenance of food safety and environmental health ».
Another big line is “the new tools for diagnostic and health monitoring focused on innovation, the use of new technologies, big data and artificial intelligence, and the design and application of new surveillance programs”, while the third is “is” is ” The evaluation of measures for the fight against these diseases due to the development of immunostimulantsFast response and the evaluation of fighting programs ».
Finally, Gómez Villamandos is currently emphasized The competitive research unit of zooses and emerging diseases of the University of Córdoba (Enzoem), KIEM from this center, “It has 40 consolidated researchers and a broad research career at national and international level, as well as with a broad collaboration with research centers.”
For its part, the general secretary of Health and R&D emphasized in the health of the Ministry of Health and Consumption, Aurea Morillo, the importance of the establishment of this center before the growing number of diseases and Infections transferred by zoonosis, directly or indirectly, such as Western Nile fever or the smallpox of AAP, They cause public health problems.
In fact, he emphasized: «Our goal is that Caizem becomes a national reference in the field of research on zooses and emerging diseases«.
This center will improve the efficiency of public management of research in an area that has become an interest with the COVID-19 Pandemie, because on the one hand it makes cooperation, coordination and sum of the efforts of research teams that develop its activity in the field of health, public health, animal health, animal health and the environment.
Morillo explained that The claizem, with the application of the ‘One Health’ perspective“It will allow you to tackle the research activity in the field of public health with a new approach and a multidisciplinary character, thanks to the participation of health workers, experts in the field of public health, agronomas and veterinarians.”
Interdisciplinary work
For his part, the rector of the UCO, Manuel Torralbo, that «today is an important day for the University of Córdoba, for the public system of universities of Andalusia and For all people who believe in useful science, connected to the real problems of society«.
Because the Constitution of Caizem «is not only the implementation of a new research center, it is the start of a working model based on cooperation between disciplines, in which Veterinary professionals, medicine, biology, agronomic engineering and many other areas unite their knowledge To continue in emerging diseases and to protect public health.
He also emphasized that this center is born with a clear Interdisciplinary calling and with an approach that reminds us that human health, animal health and the environment go hand in hand«, So, for the University of Córdoba« To be part of this project is a huge scientific opportunity, but also a big responsibility.
Various administrations and areas that add efforts with a common objective, because at a time when the health challenges are worldwide, the answer must also be, ”said Torralbo, who added to it Caizem is a reference, not only in Andalusia, but also nationally and internationally«.
«This center is A dedication to science that saves lives, and it is a pride to be able to say that it is born here, in Córdoba“, He concluded.