What is the Difference Between Anthroponoses Sapronoses and Zoonoses?

Anthroponoses, sapronoses, and zoonoses are terms used to classify human communicable diseases according to the source of infection. The differences between these categories are as follows:

1. Anthroponoses: These are diseases transmissible only from human to human. The source of infection is an infectious human, and interhuman transfer is typical. Examples of anthroponoses include influenza and tuberculosis.
2. Zoonoses: These are diseases transmissible from animals to humans. The source of infection is an infectious animal, and interhuman transfer is uncommon or rare. Examples of zoonoses include rabies, Lyme disease, and avian influenza.
3. Sapronoses: These are diseases transmissible from an abiotic substrate or nonliving environment (such as soil, water, or decaying plants) to humans. The source of infection is not an animal, and interhuman transfer is exceptional. Examples of sapronoses include legionellosis and Pontiac fever.

While anthroponoses and zoonoses are usually the domains for professional activities of human and veterinary epidemiologists, respectively, sapronoses may be the domain for environmental microbiologists. The underdiagnosis rate for sapronoses is probably higher than that for anthroponoses and zoonoses, and an increase should be expected in both incidence and number of sapronoses.

Comparative Table: Anthroponoses Sapronoses vs Zoonoses

Here is a table comparing the differences between anthroponoses, sapronoses, and zoonoses:

Anthroponoses are diseases transmitted between humans, with the source of infection being an infectious human. Sapronoses are diseases transmitted from the abiotic environment (e.g., soil, water) to humans. Zoonoses are diseases transmitted from animals to humans, with the source of infection being an infectious animal.