MEDICAL ZOOLOGY MEETS PARASITOLOGY: EMERGING ZOONOTIC DISEASES AND THEIR GENETIC BASIS.

Abstract

 Emerging zoonotic diseases represent one of the most pressing global health challenges, driven by intensified human–animal interactions, climate change, and environmental disruption. This study bridges medical zoology, parasitology, and genetics to explore the mechanisms through which parasites adapt, cross species barriers, and establish new transmission cycles. Using a mixed-methods approach that integrated genomic sequencing, population genetics, ecological field surveys, and host–vector interaction mapping, the research identified significant genetic diversity and adaptive traits in protozoan and helminth parasites with zoonotic potential. Results demonstrated that genetic polymorphisms, recombination events, and differential expression of virulence genes are central to parasite emergence, while ecological observations revealed that land-use change, biodiversity loss, and vector expansion amplify opportunities for spillover. Tables provided quantitative evidence of host–parasite interaction frequencies, drug resistance profiles, and co-infection rates, whereas figures illustrated multidimensional relationships between genetic variation, ecological drivers, and epidemiological outcomes. The discussion emphasized the value of the One Health approach, calling for integrated surveillance systems, genomic databases, and proactive ecological monitoring to anticipate outbreaks before they escalate. This study concludes that effective zoonotic disease prevention requires interdisciplinary frameworks linking molecular biology and ecological science with public health strategies. By illuminating the genetic basis of parasitic adaptation and its ecological correlates, the research contributes to predictive and preventive tools urgently needed to address the growing threat of emerging zoonotic parasitic diseases.