Population Mobility, Globalization, and Antimicrobial Drug Resistance
Emerging Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.3201/eid1511.090419
- PMID
- 19891857
- PMCID
- PMC2857234
- OpenAlex
- W2140176358
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings highlight numerous pathways through which zoonotic pathogens may enter via wildlife imports. The authors recommend immediate proactive policy changes at multiple levels to protect public safety.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study sought to evaluate the potential for imported wild mammals to introduce zoonotic pathogens into the United States by analyzing import data and assessing their capacity to host selected risk zoonoses.
Study design
Retrospective analysis of mammal import data from 2000 to 2005, coupled with a risk assessment methodology that evaluated the potential of imported genera to host 27 selected zoonotic agents.
Population and setting
The study examined 246,772 wild mammals across 190 genera and 68 families imported into the United States during a six-year period.
Main findings
Rabies virus was identified in 78 mammalian genera, followed by Bacillus anthracis in 57, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in 48, Echinococcus species in 41, and Leptospira species in 35. Canis and Felis genera each harbored 14 risk zoonoses, Rattus harbored 13, Equus harbored 11, and both Macaca and Lepus harbored 10.
Public-health relevance
The findings highlight numerous pathways through which zoonotic pathogens may enter via wildlife imports. The authors recommend immediate proactive policy changes at multiple levels to protect public safety.
Important limitations
This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. The original paper is required for decision-grade interpretation, including methodological details, validation of risk assessments, and consideration of temporal relevance given the 2000-2005 study period.
GIDS interpretation
This article is discoverable through classifier links for rabies, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, health policy, One Health, surveillance, and the United States. It provides context on zoonotic pathogen importation risk but does not connect to a current surveillance signal.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 9 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.