Parasite zoonoses and wildlife: One health, spillover and human activity

• Wildlife is not always the original source of human infections.
• We redress the balance in a one-health philosophy using parasite zoonoses.
• Human activity is central to zoonotic transmission.
• Spillover of ‘human’ parasites to naïve species of wildlife is an emerging threat.
• Increased surveillance of wildlife populations is essential.

This review examines parasite zoonoses and wildlife in the context of the One Health triad that encompasses humans, domestic animals, wildlife and the changing ecosystems in which they live. Human (anthropogenic) activities influence the flow of all parasite infections within the One Health triad and the nature and impact of resulting spillover events are examined. Examples of spillover from wildlife to humans and/or domestic animals, and vice versa, are discussed, as well as emerging issues, particularly the need for parasite surveillance of wildlife populations. Emphasis is given to Trypanosoma cruzi and related species in Australian wildlife, Trichinella, Echinococcus, Giardia, Baylisascaris, Toxoplasma and Leishmania.

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