CURRENT PERSPECTIVE ON ZOONOTIC DISEASES: TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS AND PHYTOCHEMICAL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR RABIES MANAGEMENT

Zoonotic infections remain to present a remarkable worldwide health burden because of their multifaceted route of spread and intimate link with humans, animals, and their surrounding environments. However, of these infections, rabies ranks among those viral infections that not only remain highly lethal but are preventable. Nevertheless, these are mostly encountered and documented in low- and middle-income nations where canine rabies predominates. In addition, through various evidences presented and discussed in this review, it is seen that rabies and other such infections have continued to persist because of poor surveillance and access to vaccines, public education, and intersectoral struggle connecting human and animal health. In the present day, the efficacy of existing therapeutic interventions such as postexposure prophylaxis, which entails wound care along with immunization and the administration of immunoglobulin, is very high if done on a prompt basis. Still, cases of delayed interventions have led to increasing mortalities. Although improvements have been made to the efficacy and protect of cell culture-vaccine platforms, availability of such vaccines varies in endemic regions. More so, there is a rise in information pertaining to the possibility of the application of natural products such as nanoparticles of plant origin, which have been recognized to have antimicrobial, antiviral, and immune modulatory activities. Although such interventions deserve a trial from a clinical point of view, just a little validation has been done of such interventions on a live scale. One Health is another topic that has been recognized to effectively address all factors pertaining to zoonotic disease such as Rabies. Despite these advances, there are still many areas to be filled in via further studies with particular emphasis on translating unique developed in the laboratory into community-applicable interventions, optimizing community-based vaccine approaches, and advancing interdisciplinary approaches to community-based disease surveillance. Also important are vaccine distribution systems, rigorous evaluation of innovative plant-based therapy approaches, and policy-driven approaches to One Health. All these areas will ensure not only control and hopefully eradication of rabies but also a lower effect of zoonotic diseases in particular and infections in general worldwide.