Ancient Rome and the zoonoses
New article published in Revista Complutense de Ciencias Veterinarias
December 31st, 2018
Ancient Rome was an unhealthy and annoying city, far from our sound idea about it, associated to palaces, temples and statues. Daily life used to take place in a crowded environment, where malnutrition and poverty thrived. Direct or indirect fecal contamination from humans and animals of water and food was highly probable. Spills and pollution of watercourses and reservoirs with filth and carrion occurred often, this favoring pathogens and vectors. The lack of appropriate cleansing of streets and sewers, and the regular presence of animals –insects included– in streets and households guaranteed some more health challenges. These, and some other risk factors, supported both the appearance of large epidemics and the maintenance of endemic transmissible diseases including zoonoses.
 | Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). 111 |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). 111 |
