Agricultural Insects as Potential Vectors of Zoonotic Diseases: A Public Health Perspective

Abstract

Agricultural insects, long recognized primarily as crop pests, are increasingly implicated as vectors of zoonotic pathogens capable of crossing species barriers into human populations. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms, ecological drivers, and public health consequences of insect-mediated zoonotic disease transmission within agricultural landscapes. Employing a structured literature review methodology, mosquitoes, ticks, flies, sandflies, biting midges, and fleas are examined for how they acquire and disseminate bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents among livestock, wildlife, and human hosts. Ecological determinants such as
habitat modification, host density, and seasonal climatic variation are analyzed for their influence on vector distribution and pathogen amplification. The review further evaluates the public health burden of these transmission events, including disease severity, outbreak potential, economic losses, and disruptions to food security. Findings indicate that agricultural intensification, land-use change, and climate variability collectively heighten vector-borne zoonotic risk, necessitating integrated surveillance and control strategies. Results are framed within a One Health perspective uniting veterinary, environmental, and human health disciplines. The paper concludes that proactive, interdisciplinary monitoring of agricultural insect vectors is essential for early detection and mitigation of emerging zoonotic threats, offering practical recommendations for policymakers, farmers, and public health practitioners.