What term is used to describe diseases transmitted from animals to humans?

The appropriate term used to describe diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans is zoonotic diseases. This classification encompasses a wide range of infections that can originate from various animal sources, including domesticated pets, livestock, and wild animals. Zoonotic diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi, and examples include rabies, salmonellosis, and lyme disease.

Vector-borne diseases, on the other hand, specifically refer to diseases transmitted by vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks, which may involve zoonotic pathways but are not exclusively animal-to-human transmissions. Endemic diseases are those that are consistently present within a certain geographical area and do not necessarily originate from animals. Infectious diseases is a broader term that encompasses all diseases caused by microorganisms and can include both zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases. Thus, zoonotic diseases is the precise term for the category in question.