Emerging Zoonotic Diseases and the Role of Livestock in One Health Perspectives

Zoonotic diseases, transmitted between animals and humans, represent a major global health threat due to their capacity for rapid emergence and cross-species transmission. The intensification of livestock production, expanding human–animal interfaces and environmental disturbances have collectively increased the risk of zoonotic spillovers. Livestock play a pivotal role in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases as both reservoirs and amplifying hosts. The concept of One Health which integrates human, animal and environmental health provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and mitigating these risks. This review explores the emergence of zoonotic diseases from livestock populations, examines key drivers such as intensive farming, wildlife–livestock interactions and antimicrobial resistance and discusses the application of One Health strategies in surveillance, prevention and control. Emphasis is placed on collaborative approaches that bridge veterinary, medical and environmental disciplines to foster global resilience against future zoonotic outbreaks.