Difference Between Zoonotic and Vector Borne Diseases

The key difference between zoonotic and vector borne diseases is that zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans, while vector-borne diseases are diseases transmitted to humans and other animals through the bite of an arthropod (insect, tick, mosquito, etc.).

Zoonotic and vector-borne diseases are two major types of infectious diseases that involve animal hosts or vectors. Both of these diseases are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc. Due to these zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, people often become sick. Besides, though some of these diseases are mild, some are severe or fatal.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Zoonotic Diseases
3. What are Vector-Borne Diseases
4. Similarities Between Zoonotic and Vector Borne Diseases
5. Side by Side Comparison – Zoonotic vs. Vector Borne Diseases in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What are Zoonotic Diseases?

Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases transmitted from vertebrate animals to humans. In simple words, they are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. People interact with animals, especially with pets such as dogs, cats, etc., who carry infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc. Once they are transmitted from animals to humans, they can cause different illnesses ranging from mild, severe to fatal. Rabies, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Salmonella infection, E. coli infection, psittacosis, anthrax, avian influenza or bird flu, bovine tuberculosis, Ebola, and leprosy are some zoonotic diseases.

The transmission of zoonotic diseases to humans takes place in different ways. Humans can be directly contacted via infected animals’ secretions such as saliva, blood, urine, mucus, or faeces. Transmission can also happen indirectly by touching the contaminated surfaces and objects. Moreover, zoonotic diseases are commonly transmitted by different vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and lice. Vectors bite infected animals and then bite a human, transmitting the infectious agents from animals to humans. Contaminated animal food also transmits zoonotic diseases to humans. To prevent zoonotic diseases, we should keep our hands clean, handle foods safely, prevent the bites from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, choose pets wisely, etc.

What are Vector Borne Diseases?

Vector-borne diseases are diseases transmitted through the bite of an arthropod (insect, tick, mosquito, etc.). Vectors, typically insects, ticks, or mites, carry infectious particles or agents from one host to another. Generally, the virulence of the pathogen increases when it stays inside the vector. For example, malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, Lyme disease, plague, relapsing fever, rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia, typhus, West Nile virus, and zika virus disease are several vector-borne diseases.

Climate change can cause effects on vector-borne disease transmission and infection patterns. Temperature and precipitation patterns greatly affect the size and density of vector population, survival rates of vectors, relative abundance of disease-carrying animal reservoir hosts, and pathogen reproduction rates.

What are the Similarities Between Zoonotic and Vector Borne Diseases?

• Both zoonotic and vector borne diseases are infectious diseases.
• They are caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoans.
• Both types of diseases make people sick.
• They can be prevented by taking different precautions.
• These diseases are often climate-sensitive.

What is the Difference Between Zoonotic and Vector Borne Diseases?

Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans, while vector borne diseases are infectious diseases that are transmitted due to the bites of arthropods such as mosquitoes, flea, ticks, etc. So, this is the key difference between zoonotic and vector borne diseases. Moreover, rabies, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, Salmonella infection, E. coli infection, psittacosis, anthrax, avian influenza or bird flu, bovine tuberculosis, Ebola and leprosy are some zoonotic diseases. Meanwhile, malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, plague, relapsing fever, rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia, typhus, West Nile virus, and zika virus disease are some of the vector-borne diseases.

Below infographic summarizes the difference between zoonotic and vector borne diseases.

Summary – Zoonotic vs. Vector Borne Diseases

Zoonotic diseases are infections that spread between animals and humans. Vector-borne diseases are the diseases caused due to biting by a tick, a mosquito or a flea, etc. Thus, this is the difference between zoonotic and vector borne diseases. Some zoonotic diseases are rabies, dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, Salmonella infection, E. coli infection, psittacosis, anthrax, avian influenza or bird flu, bovine tuberculosis, Ebola, and leprosy. Meanwhile, malaria, yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, relapsing fever, rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and typhus are some vector-borne diseases.

Reference:

1. “Zoonotic Diseases.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 July 2017, Available here.
2. C.b., et al. “Ch. 5: Vectorborne Diseases.” The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment, 4 Apr. 2016, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Figure 3- Examples of Zoonotic Diseases and Their Affected Populations (6323431516)” By U.S. Government Accountability Office from Washington, DC, United States – Figure 3: Examples of Zoonotic Diseases and Their Affected Populations, Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “These four arthropods, a flea, mite, tick, and a horsefly, are often the source of many vector-borne infectious…” by Public Health Image Library (CC0) via Public Domain Files