Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can spread between animals and humans. The document discusses zoonotic diseases in the Philippines, including their modes of transmission and classification. It summarizes research on zoonotic diseases in the Philippines from 1973 and provides overviews of viral, rickettsial, bacterial, mycotic, endoparasitic, and other zoonotic diseases that pose a threat in the country. It also reviews the laws and national plans governing zoonotic disease surveillance and control in the Philippines.

1. Zoonotic Disease Research and Response in the
Philippines
Reagan Joseph T. Villanueva MD

2. Objective
• What is zoonoses?
• Mode of Transmission

3. Zoonoses definition
• WHO: A zoonosis is an infectious disease that has jumped from a
non-human animal to humans.
• CDC: Zoonotic diseases (also known as zoonoses) are caused by
germs that spread between animals and people
• Merriam-Webster: an infection or disease that is transmissible
from animals to humans under natural conditions

5. Transmission
• Direct contact: contact with the saliva, blood, urine, mucous, feces, or other
body fluids of an infected animal
• Indirect contact: contact with areas where animals live and roam, or objects
or surfaces that have been contaminated
• Vector-borne: Being bitten by an insect
• Foodborne: Eating or drinking contaminated food
• Waterborne: Drinking or coming in contact with contaminated water

6. Hortal , et.al., 2015. Seven Shortfalls that Beset Large-
Scale Knowledge of Biodiversity
• species taxonomy (Linnean)
• distribution (Wallacean)
• abundance (Prestonian)
• evolutionary patterns (Darwinian)
• abiotic tolerances of species (Hutchinsonian)
• knowledge of species traits (Raunkiæran)
• biotic interactions (Eltonian)

7. Zoonotic disease threat
• zoonotic disease events and emergencies;
• endemic zoonotic diseases;
• new or emerging zoonotic diseases;
• other threats at the human-animal-environment interface
such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety, and
food security

8. The Epidemiology of Zoonoses in the Philippines
James H. Steele, Primo V. Arambulo III, George W. Beran
Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal 1973

9. Viral Zoonosis
• Steele et al 1973: rabies,
dengue
• Saito et al 2013:
phylogenetic of Phil rabies
• Agrupis et al 2019: Trends
in dengue research in the
Philippines: A systematic
review

10. Rickettsial Zoonoses
• Steele 1973: scrub typhus, endemic
typhus, psittacosis
• Scrub Typhus: Historic Perspective and
Current Status of the Worldwide Presence
of Orientia Species: Richards & Jang, 2020

11. Bacterial Zoonoses
• Steele 1973: leptospira,
anthrax, salmonella, vibrio,
tetanus
Disease Etiology Animal Host
Major Symptoms, System or
Organs Involved
Bacterial zoonoses
Anthrax Bacillus anthracis
Cattle, horses, sheep, pigs,
dogs, bison, elks,
white-tailed deer,
goats,
and mink
Skin, respiratory organs, or GI
tract
Tuberculosis
Mycobacterium
bovis,
Mycobacterium
caprae,
Mycobacterium
microti
Cattle, sheep, swine, deer,
wild boars, camels, and
bison Respiratory organs bone
marrow
Brucellosis
Brucella abortus
Brucella melitensis,
Brucella suis,
Brucella canis,
Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs,
and dogs
Fever, usually high in the
afternoon, back pain, joint
pain, poor appetite, and
weight loss
Bubonic plague Yersinia pestis
Rock squirrels, wood rats,
ground squirrels,
prairie dogs, mice, voles,
chipmunks, and rabbits
Fever, chills, abdominal pain,
diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding
from natural opening
Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
infections
E coli O157:H7
Cattle, sheep, pigs, deer,
dogs, and poultry
Enteritis and
Hemolytic–uremic syndrome
(HUS)
Leprosy
Mycobacterium
leprae
Monkeys, rats, mice, and
cats
Skin lesions
Leptospirosis
Leptospira
interrogans
Wild and domestic
animals including pet
dogs
Fever, abdominal pain,
jaundice, and red eye
Salmonellosis
Salmonella enterica,
Salmonella bongor
Domestic animals, birds,
and dogs
Enteritis
Arcobacter
infections
Arcobacter butzleri,
Arcobacter cryaerophilus,
Arcobacter skirrowii
Cattle, sheep, pigs, and
chickens
Abdominal pain, fever, and
vomiting
Rahman et al 2020. Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Impact, and Control

12. Mycotic Zoonoses
• Steele 1973:
histoplasmosis
– Aspergillosis,
cryptococcosis, and
candidiasis have all been
reported in the Philippines,
but have been very
inadequately studied

13. Endoparasitic Zoonoses
• Malaria, schistosoma,
paragonimus, filaria

14. Classification of zoonoses
• bacterial zoonoses (such as anthrax, salmonellosis, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, brucellosis,
and plague)
• viral zoonoses (rabies, avian influenza)
• parasitic zoonoses (mange, cestodes)
• fungal zoonoses (ring worm)
• rickettsial zoonoses (Q-fever, scrub typhus)
• chlamydial zoonoses (psittacosis)
• mycoplasma zoonoses (Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection)
• protozoal zoonoses (trichinosis, giardiasis, malaria)
• acellular non-viral pathogenic agents (spongiform encephalopathies and mad cow disease)

15. • Domestic animals play a significant role in the
transmission of various diseases
• About 60% human infectious diseases come from
vertebrate animals
• About 14–62% of pet owners allow their pets to their
bedrooms
• Fish-associated zoonotic pathogens are mainly bacteria

16. World Health Organization. ICONZ—Integrated Control of Neglected Zoonotic Diseases & United
Kingdom. Dept for International Development Research in Use. The Control of Neglected Zoonotic
Diseases: Community Based Interventions for NZDs Prevention and Control: Report of the Third
Conference Organized with ICONZ, DFID-RiU, SOS, EU, TDR and FAO with the Participation of
ILRI and OIE: 23–24 November 2010; World Health Organization; WHO Heaquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland, 2011.

17. Taken from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/File:Zoonotic_Diseases.jpg

18. Legalities
• Act No. 2711 on Animal Quarantine — Statutory Mandate of BAI on Animal Quarantine pursuant to Sections 1761 1770 of Act No. 2711 (Revised
Administrative Code of 1917) which adopted by reference in Section 5 ofAct No. 3639 (Approved on December 7, 1929)
• Act No. 3573 — An Act which provides for the Prevention and Suppression of Dangerous Communicable Diseases (Approved on November 26, 1929)
• Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8485 — "The Animal Welfare Act of 1998", as amended by R.A. No. 10631
• R.A. No. 9147 — "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act" of 2001
• R.A. No. 9271 — "Quarantine Act of 2004"
• R.A. No. 9296 — "The Meat Inspection Code ofthe Philippines" of 2004, as amended by R.A. No.10536
• R.A. No. 9482 or the "Anti- Rabies Act of 2007" — "An Act Providing for the Control and Elimination of Human and Animal Rabies, Prescribing Penalties for
Violation Thereof and Appropriating Funds Therefor"
• Executive Order (E.O.) No.338, series of 2001 — Restructuring the Department of Agriculture, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes
• E.O. No.201, series of 2003—Defining the Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of Government Agencies in Response to the SevereAcute Respiratory
Syndrome Contagion J. E.O. No. 280 series of 2004 — Defining the powers, functions, and responsibilities of government agencies in response to Avian
Influenza (Al) or Bird Flu virus and related matters thereto
• E.O. No. 826 series of 2009 — Defining the Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities of Government Agencies in Response to Ebola Reston Virus Infection
and Matters Related thereto
• E.O. No. 168, series of 2014 — Creating the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Philippines
• Joint DOH-DA Administrative Order No. 001 series of 2005 — "Adopting the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) Manual of Procedures and
establishing the National Avian Task Force (NAITF)"
• DOH Administrative Order No. 2007-0036 — Guidelines on the Philippines Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (PIDSR) Frarnework VIII.A. I.b.l.
Immediately notifiable diseases/syndrome or event
• DA-Administrative Circular No. 03 s. 2018 - Amendment to DA Administrative Order No. 01, series of 2012 on Declaring the List if Notifiable Animal
Diseases
• DOH Memorandum No. 2014-0260 — Interim Guidelines on the Preparedness and Response to MERS-C0V
• DOH Memorandum No. 2014-0381 Preparedness and Response Plan for the Prevention and Control of Ebola Virus Disease

19. • ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 10 s 2011
– CREATING THE PHILIPPINE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE ON ZOONOSES,
DEFINING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, OTHER RELATED
MATTERS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
• JOINT DOH-DA-DENR ADMNISTRATIVE ORDER No. 02 s 2020
– GUIDELINES TO OPERATIONALIZE THE PHILIPPINE INTER-AGENCY COMMITTEE
ON ZOONOSES (PhilCZ)

20. 2021 Global Health Security Index scores for Philippines: Zoonoses
• Is there national legislation, plans, or equivalent strategy documents on zoonotic disease? Yes
– conducted in 2018
– Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Zoonotic Disease has issued plans in relation to five priority diseases: rabies, anthrax,
leptospirosis, Japanese B Encephalitis and Ebola Reston
– most well-developed of these plans relate to rabies DOH's Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease program has also
issued several policies and guidelines in relation to MERS-CoV, Ebola, SARS, Meningococcemia, leptospirosis, and Zika.
• Is there national legislation, plans or equivalent strategy document(s) which includes measures for risk identification and reduction for
zoonotic disease spillover events from animals to humans? NO
– There is insufficient evidence that the Philippines has issued policy documents related to risk identification and reduction for
zoonotic disease spillover.
• Is there national legislation, plans, or guidelines that account for the surveillance and control of multiple zoonotic pathogens of public
health concern? YES
• Is there a department, agency, or similar unit dedicated to zoonotic disease that functions across ministries? NO
– There is no public evidence of a department, agency or similar unit dedicated to zoonotic disease that functions across
ministries. The only body that is specifically responsible for zoonotic diseases is the Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on
Zoonoses

21. 2021 Global Health Security Index scores for Philippines:
Zoonoses
• Is there legislation and/or regulations that safeguard the confidentiality of information generated
through surveillance activities for animals (for owners)?
– There is no public evidence that there are laws or guidelines that safeguard the confidentiality of
information generated through surveillance activities for owners of animals.
• Does the country conduct surveillance of zoonotic disease in wildlife (e.g., wild animals, insects, other
disease vectors)?
– There is no public evidence that the Philippines conducts surveillance of zoonotic disease in
wildlife.
• Does the national plan on zoonotic disease or other legislation, regulations, or plans include
mechanisms for working with the private sector in controlling or responding to zoonoses?
– There is no public evidence that there is a national law, plan, or equivalent strategy document, on
zoonotic disease, and so,there are no broad-based mechanisms for working with the private sector
in controlling or responding to zoonoses.