Abstract
Pathogen origination are the causal activities that form the pathogen responsible for the contraction and manifestation of diseases. These causal processes contain an environmental component; however, they are not restricted to environmental factors or zoonotic enablers. Rather, they comprise any causal contribution to the inception of a pathogen that can or will result in disease. Hence, this causal category is a notable consideration in terms of zoonotic disease emergence and transmission. Furthermore, it is a crucial tool for developing optimal precautionary measures for the management of pandemics. The concept of pathogen origination allows one to develop ‘pre-primary’ approaches to zoonotic diseases, which incorporates the factors of zoonotic disease emergence, prior to the onset of epidemics in human populations. This approach to disease management requires a complex systems approach, due to the various factors involved in zoonotic process. However, there is a multitude of social considerations in the formation of zoonotic diseases – more so than other diseases – because zoonotic diseases involve more than the dynamics between people and disease factors. Rather, zoonotic diseases are accumulations of interspecies dynamics and the physiological frameworks of various animals, coupled with their environmental influences. Therefore, tackling zoonotic diseases from a truly preventative stance is a hugely complex task for public health officials. Initiatives, such as the One Health approach, are instrumental in counteracting the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. However, a straightforward pluralist approach to the problem of zoonotic disease emergence is lacking in tangible frameworks to account for the vast complexity of the task at hand; zoonotic diseases require more than a multidisciplinary strategy. Interdisciplinary contributions are extremely important to the task of zoonotic disease emergence and public health reforms. However, a standardized approach needs to be developed, that accounts for aspects of systems complexity in zoonoses. For instance, pathogen origination is a relative concept, that varies depending on the physiology and environment of the host. The identification of feedback loops in zoonotic disease behaviour is a foundational principle of the ‘Extended Health’ hypothesis (Morar and Skorburg). Feedback loop and identification and systems approaches, such as Extended Health have significant potential for public health policies, as well as ecological conservation strategies. A notable starting point for these public health interventions would be an in-depth strategy to tackle the reputation, wellbeing and protection of bats.