Experts from around the world will descend on Ames this weekend to learn both about terrorism in the animal industry and animal diseases that have the potential to affect humans.

Animal diseases that are transmittable to humans, known as zoonoses, will be the topic for the 4th International Conference on Emerging Zoonoses hosted largely by Iowa State University and the National Animal Disease Center.

Experts from more than 19 different countries around the world will speak at the Gateway Center, located off U.S. Highway 30 and Elwood Drive.

Animal health experts from Africa, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, China and other countries will speak about their research and fields of expertise.

In addition to the speakers, over 200 attendees will be present, said Teresa Sutton, public relations officer for the National Animal Disease Center.

“The purpose of this conference is to bring together experts on zoonotic diseases [to share] the most recent research,” said James Roth, distinguished professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine

Many of the hot topics in national news such as monkeypox, the West Nile virus, SARS and xenotransplantation — transplanting animal organs into humans — will also be discussed.

“This is a great way to get together other researchers and [share new information],” Roth said.

It is the hope of those who attend the conference that they can come together and combine their efforts to further the knowledge of these zoonotic diseases, he said.

“We are pretty fortunate to have [this conference] in Ames,” Sutton said.

People should pay attention, and have an interest in diseases that can affect humans, she said.

Sutton said Ames has the largest concentration of animal experts in the world. At least 27 speakers on tentative schedule are from either Iowa State University, or Ames research and regulation agencies, she said.

The three-day event begins Friday.