ABSTRACT
Wildlife is considered an important source of infectious diseases transmissible to humans. Zoonoses from wildlife reservoirs constitute a major public health problem in all continents. The importance of such zoonoses is increasingly recognized, and the need for more attention in this area is being addressed. Wild animals seem to be involved in the epidemiology of most zoonoses and serve as major reservoirs for transmission of zoonotic agents to domestic animals and humans. The majority of the natural Cryptosporidium infections described in wild ruminants have been reported in zoo animals. The environmental temperature and humidity, the physical features of the facilities, the vicinity of the animals, and the captivity-induced stress may lead to immunosuppression, which may contribute to transmission of enteropathogens in zoological parks. Factors influencing the transmission of Cryptosporidium in primates and herbivores housed at the Barcelona Zoo were analyzed.
