Emerging infectious disease: what are the relative roles of ecology and evolution?

The increasing threat of infectious diseases in humans has renewed interest in factors leading to the emergence of new diseases and the re-emergence of familiar diseases. Examples of seemingly novel diseases currently spreading in human populations include HIV, dengue hemorrhagic fever and Lyme dise...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) 1995-08, Vol.10 (8), p.319-324
Main Authors: Schrag, Stephanie J., Wiener, Pamela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
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Summary:The increasing threat of infectious diseases in humans has renewed interest in factors leading to the emergence of new diseases and the re-emergence of familiar diseases. Examples of seemingly novel diseases currently spreading in human populations include HIV, dengue hemorrhagic fever and Lyme disease; drug-resistant forms of well-known diseases such as tuberculosis are also increasing. The problem of disease emergence also extends to other animal and plant populations. In most current epidemics, ecological factors (e.g. migration, climate, agricultural practices) play a more significant role in disease emergence than evolutionary changes in pathogens or hosts. Evolutionary biologists and ecologists have much to offer to the development of strategies for the control of emerging diseases.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/S0169-5347(00)89118-1