What term describes a disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans?

The term "zoonotic" specifically refers to diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. These diseases arise from pathogens that can infect both species, often leading to health issues in humans that can stem from direct contact with infected animals or through indirect means such as contaminated environments or vectors like ticks and mosquitoes.

Understanding zoonotic diseases is crucial in the field of veterinary medicine and public health, as it emphasizes the interconnectedness of animal and human health, often summarized by the One Health concept. The prevalence of zoonotic diseases highlights the importance of monitoring animal health and implementing preventative measures to protect human populations.

In contrast, the other terms provided do not capture the specific interspecies transmission characteristic of zoonotic diseases. "Endemic" refers to a disease that is consistently present in a particular geographic area; "pathogenic" describes any agent causing disease but does not specify its transmission between animals and humans; and "infectious" refers broadly to diseases caused by infectious agents without indicating whether they are zoonotic. Thus, "zoonotic" is the most precise term for describing the transmission of diseases from animals to humans.