The Climate Connection: Linking Global Warming to Zoonotic Outbreaks in Poultry

Background: Climate change has emerged as a major global factor influencing the dynamics of infectious diseases in animals and humans. Poultry, as one of the most productive livestock sectors, is highly vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events are altering the ecological factors of pathogens and vectors, thereby providing opportunities for the transmission of common agents between humans and animals, such as avian influenza (AIV), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), Salmonella species, and Campylobacter species. This study examines the relationship between global warming and the emergence or re-emergence of zoonotic diseases in poultry populations. Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between ۲۰۱۰ and ۲۰۲۵ was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Search terms included “climate change,” “poultry diseases,” “zoonosis,” and “avian influenza.” Studies addressing climate-related environmental factors, pathogen dynamics, and epidemiological data linking poultry disease outbreaks to temperature or humidity changes were included. Results: Evidence suggests that weather-induced stress in poultry can impair immune function and increase susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections. Several studies have shown a correlation between higher ambient temperatures and increased prevalence of avian influenza virus (AIV) and Campylobacter. Warmer climates increase the survival of pathogens in water and soil, facilitate vector reproduction, and expand migratory bird routes that help spread the virus. In addition, inadequate biosecurity during extreme weather events (e.g., floods, droughts) increases the risk of interspecies transmission. Modeling studies predict that if warming trends continue, the incidence of zoonotic diseases from poultry could increase by ۲۰ to ۲۵ percent by ۲۰۵۰. Conclusion: Global warming plays a critical role in reshaping the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases in poultry. Implementing climate-resilient agricultural systems, strengthening monitoring, and integrating environmental data into disease prediction models to reduce potential future risks.

کلیدواژه ها:

Climate change ، poultry ، zoonosis ، avian influenza ، global warming ، disease emergence