1. Animal disease ecology and transmission involves the study of how diseases spread between animals and their environments. Key concepts include reservoirs, where pathogens live and multiply; ports of exit, how pathogens leave an infected host; and modes of transmission, how pathogens are passed between hosts. 2. Many factors can influence disease emergence and spread, including climate change, land use changes, increased animal densities, and globalization. Climate change can alter disease patterns by changing temperatures and rainfall in ways that increase vector populations. Changes in land use and encroachment on animal habitats can increase contact between wildlife and livestock. 3. Integrated policies are needed to address socioeconomic, institutional, and production factors that influence disease risks at the