Emerging pathogens: The epidemiology and evolution of species jumps

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Mark E. J. Woolhouse, University of Edinburgh; Daniel T. Haydon, University of Glasgow; Rustom Antia, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2005.02.009
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 238
• End Page: 244
• Grant/Funding Information: M.E.J.W. and D.T.H. gratefully acknowledge the support of the Wellcome Trust.
• Keywords: RNA viruses; Epidemiology; Evolutionary processes; Species jump; Evolution; Population dynamics; Pathogens
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Human Development; Biology, General; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Biology, Virology

Abstract

Novel pathogens continue to emerge in human, domestic animal, wildlife and plant populations, yet the population dynamics of this kind of biological invasion remain poorly understood. Here, we consider the epidemiological and evolutionary processes underlying the initial introduction and subsequent spread of a pathogen in a new host population, with special reference to pathogens that originate by jumping from one host species to another. We conclude that, although pathogen emergence is inherently unpredictable, emerging pathogens tend to share some common traits, and that directly transmitted RNA viruses might be the pathogens that are most likely to jump between host species.