Abstract
The growing human footprint on natural habitats is causing significant environmental changes that are having a major impact on the nature of and changes in the relationships between hosts and parasites (a term that encompasses viruses, bacteria, helminths and protozoa that can be pathogenic), with, in particular, increased contact between humans and wildlife that are reservoirs for these parasites. These disrupted environments are conducive to the circulation of zoonoses (infectious diseases transmitted between animals and humans), particularly in regions of the Global South that are facing multi-sectoral challenges brought about by current anthropogenic changes. Intensive urbanisation is a prime example of this situation, where humans are both the protagonists and the victims of environmental disruptions. Preventing and managing zoonotic risks effectively and sustainably in these fast-growing urban areas is therefore a major priority for sustainable development.