This chapter reviews archaeological evidence about the origin and evolution of humans in Africa, and describes the origins of the first infectious diseases that plagued early humans. The role of human genetic diversity in disease selection is discussed.

This chapter reviews the animal origins of some of the most serious infectious diseases of humans, which include human immunodeficiency virus infections, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. It also discusses the role of bats as a reservoir host for other...

This chapter presents a historical account of some of the common infectious diseases of humans associated with unhygienic and unsanitary traditional practices, such as neonatal tetanus, trachoma, yaws and syphilis. The importance of handwashing and hygiene education in the control and prevention of ...

This chapter describes 2 human diseases, poliomyelitis and allergies, as examples of how being too clean or less exposure to microorganisms early in life or during childhood increases our future risk for developing diseases.

This chapter reviews current understanding of the origin of life, starting with the evolution of Archaea and bacteria, viruses and then eukaryotic organisms including animals and humans. It also provides a historical account of the early understanding of the natural history of human infectious...

This chapter reviews the types and outcome of immune response generated by the human body toward parasites/pathogens, such as Trichinella spiralis, Plasmodium falciparum, Helicobacter pylori and other bacteria, and human endogenous retroviruses. It also discusses the principle behind the protective ...

This chapter reviews 2 of the great plagues (namely, plague (also known as the black death pandemic) and smallpox) in human history, examining the magnitude of its spread and mortality, disease vectors, transmission routes, clinical and epidemic characteristics, and its contribution in changing the ...

This chapter traces the history of the global spread of some of the most common human parasites through the international slave trade. A description of the life cycle of these parasites is also presented, which include hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus), Schistosoma spp., ...

This chapter reviews the history of human colonization of the abundant land of South America, and the subsequent introduction of Old World diseases, such as malaria and yellow fever, in the region, particularly through international slave trade. A brief description of the transmission route and...

This chapter reviews the ecology, geographical distribution, life cycle, host range, and feeding and reproductive behaviour of some of the most important disease vectors such as Culex, Aedes, Anopheles, Glossina, Siphonaptera, mites, and ticks. Epidemiological data on the range of human diseases...