@article{103742,
  keywords = {Zoonotic parasitic diseases , Protozoa, Helminths, Ectoparasites, One Health},
  author = {Giji A and Palani N and Syed Altaf RR and Mendonce KC and Mohan A and Quessongo EMP and Rajadesingu S},
  title = {Zoonotic parasitic diseases in India: epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and one health challenges},
  abstract = {<p>Zoonotic parasitic diseases remain a substantial yet under-recognized component of India’s infectious disease burden, sustained by intense human animal interactions, rapid urbanization, environmental change, and persistent gaps in sanitation. These infections, spanning protozoan, helminthic, and ectoparasitic parasites, show wide regional variation in prevalence across India’s diverse ecological zones. Factors such as poverty, livestock-rearing practices, contaminated water and food sources, and close proximity to domestic and wild animals drive continued transmission, particularly in resource-limited settings. Early and accurate detection is crucial; therefore, this review summarizes current diagnostic approaches ranging from conventional microscopy and rapid antigen assays to advanced serological, molecular, and imaging-based techniques capable of identifying low-intensity or extraintestinal infections. Therapeutic options, including major antiparasitic drug classes and their mechanisms, are discussed along with challenges posed by emerging resistance in&nbsp;<em>Plasmodium spp.</em>, soil-transmitted helminths, and&nbsp;<em>Leishmania donovani</em>. National programmes such as mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis and soil-transmitted helminths, integrated vector management, and school- or community-based deworming initiatives are examined through a One Health perspective, highlighting gaps in implementation, surveillance, and inter-sectoral coordination. Emerging innovations include vaccine platforms (recombinant proteins and mRNA technologies under development), CRISPR-enabled diagnostics, microfluidic point-of-care devices, and environmentally sustainable vector-control strategies, all of which offer promising opportunities for strengthening parasitic disease prevention and control. This review aims to support clinicians, public health authorities, veterinarians, and researchers in prioritizing zoonotic parasitic threats and designing evidence-based policies for sustainable control and future elimination efforts in India.</p>
},
  year = {2026},
  journal = {Journal of Parasitic Diseases},
  pages = {1 - 25},
  month = {05/2026},
  publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},
  issn = {0971-7196, 0975-0703},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12639-026-01958-9.pdf},
  doi = {10.1007/s12639-026-01958-9},
  language = {ENG},
}