MYCOPLASMAS AND NOVEL VIRAL PATHOGENS IN CANINE INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY DISEASE

摘要

Respiratory disease is a major hazard for both human and animal health; in the UK Government's Foresight program on 'The detection and identification of infectious diseases", respiratory diseases were identified as a most important future risk'2. Aerosol transmission permits rapid transfer of infection, particularly within crowded populations eg humans on planes and dogs in kennels. If this, and the scale of global movement of people and animals, is considered, it is clear that respiratory diseases have huge potential of epidemic proportions (influenza & SARS). Moreover, respiratory infections are the most common human illness worldwide. Effective diagnostic and prophylactic vaccines are key to control.