After years of scientific and public discussion concerning a temperature rise resultant from human activity and the on-going industrialisation, the global warming has become an evident fact. The effect of the temperature rise and the climate change will surely alter epidemiological aspects of some infectious diseases. In this review, we try to analyse various data concerning the impact of global warming on the spread of infectious diseases caused by bacterial, viral and protozoan agents. Certainly, it is extremely important for veterinarians and public health that some diseases have altered in their epidemiological aspects and distribution. Some new diseases may emerge; others, previously endemic, may migrate to new geographical regions. The review is focused on pathogens important to both humans and livestock, such as malaria, dengue, bluetongue, West Nile virus, tick-born diseases and infectious diarrhoeas. There are still few scientific papers on the subject, because of numerous difficulties involved in conducting such studies, such as their long time of duration, multiple factors involved in such predictions, and complicated mathematical models containing climate and epidemiological data.
Vector-borne infection constitutes a significant health issue in dogs worldwide. Recent reports point to an increasing number of canine vector-borne disease cases in European countries, including Poland. Canine babesiosis caused by various Babesia species is a protozoal tick-borne disease with worldwide distribution and significant veterinary importance. The development and application of molecular methods have increased our knowledge about canine babesiosis, its prevalence, and clinical and pathological aspects of the infection. Parasitologists and veterinary surgeons need an accurate description of the species responsible for canine babesiosis to improve diagnostic and therapeutic methods, as well as predictions for the course of the disease. Therefore, we decided to summarise recent knowledge concerning Babesia species and B. canis.
Malaria, a disease caused by protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium, is an ancient enemy of the human race. Despite enormous efforts to control, it is still a main cause of morbidity and mortality in many endemic countries of the world, particularly Africa, South of Sahara. Malaria seems to be unstoppable due to lack of an effective vaccine, acquisition of drug-resistance by malaria parasite, and insecticide resistance by Anopheles mosquitoes. In this scenario, along with search for novel preventive approaches, adequate health facilities, health literacy and awareness among people are required to control and eliminate this formidable disease from society.