What are infections transmitted from animals to humans called?

Infections transmitted from animals to humans are referred to as zoonoses. This term encompasses a wide range of diseases that can be contracted through direct contact with animals, such as bites, scratches, or other forms of exposure, as well as through indirect means such as contaminated food, water, or environmental sources. Zoonoses are significant because they highlight the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and understanding these infections is crucial for prevention and control strategies.

Other options do not specifically refer to animal-to-human transmission. Infectious diseases is a broad term that includes all diseases caused by pathogens regardless of the source, while autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, and pathogenic diseases refer simply to diseases caused by pathogens without emphasizing their source in animals. Therefore, zoonoses is the precise term that captures the nature of these infections.