Publication: Biodiversity and emerging diseases
Issued Date
2006-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17496632
00778923
00778923
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-33845695444
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Vol.1081, (2006), 1-16
Suggested Citation
Jean Charles Maillard, Jean Paul Gonzalez Biodiversity and emerging diseases. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Vol.1081, (2006), 1-16. doi:10.1196/annals.1373.001 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/22931
Research Projects
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Title
Biodiversity and emerging diseases
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Abstract
First we remind general considerations concerning biodiversity on earth and particularly the loss of genetic biodiversity that seems irreversible whether its origin is directly or indirectly linked to human activities. Urgent and considerable efforts must be made from now on to cataloge, understand, preserve, and enhance the value of biodiversity while ensuring food safety and human and animal health. Ambitious integrated and multifield research programs must be implemented in order to understand the causes and anticipate the consequences of loss of biodiversity. Such losses are a serious threat to sustainable development and to the quality of life of future generations. They have an influence on the natural balance of global biodiversity in particularly in reducing the capability of species to adapt rapidly by genetic mutations to survive in modified ecosystems. Usually, the natural immune systems of mammals (both human and animal), are highly polymorphic and able to adapt rapidly to new situations. We more specifically discuss the fact that if the genetic diversity of the affected populations is low the invading microorganisms, will suddenly expand and create epidemic outbreaks with risks of pandemic. So biodiversity appears to function as an important barrier (buffer), especially against disease-causing organisms, which can function in different ways. Finally, we discuss the importance of preserving biodiversity mainly in the wildlife ecosystems as an integrated and sustainable approach among others in order to prevent and control the emergence or reemergence of diseases in animals and humans (zoonosis). Although plants are also part of this paradigm, they fall outside our field of study. © 2006 New York Academy of Sciences.