What term describes diseases that can be spread from animals to humans?

The term that describes diseases that can be spread from animals to humans is "zoonotic diseases." This classification highlights the unique aspect of these diseases, as they specifically originate in animals and have the potential to infect humans. Understanding zoonotic diseases is crucial for animal control officers, as they must be aware of the risks involved in handling wildlife and domestic animals, particularly in cases where there may be a public health concern.

In contrast, infectious diseases refer broadly to diseases caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses, or parasites, which may or may not involve animals in their transmission cycle. Epidemic diseases pertain to outbreaks of diseases that occur over a larger geographical area and usually affect a significant proportion of the population, but this term does not specifically denote diseases that pass from animals to humans. Chronic diseases are long-lasting conditions that typically develop over time and are not necessarily related to animal interaction or transmission. Thus, "zoonotic diseases" is the precise term that encapsulates the concept of diseases moving from animals to humans.