Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

The issue of diseases in wildlife that are of public health significance is reviewed. Specific diseases that are derived from wildlife in California and known to occur in humans are listed. Habitat management by humans and the actions of humans that alter the environment are discussed in relation to wildlife populations and the diseases they may harbor or transmit. Humans may contract diseases by entering wildlife habitats where the diseases occur, or diseases may be introduced into regions previously free of the disease, causing epidemics. Examples discussed of diseases found in wildlife that have affected humans include rabies; Western encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis; various tick-borne diseases such as Colorado tick fever, Rocky mountain spotted fever, and Q fever; tularemia; murine typhus; ornithosis; leptospirosis; and others.