Diseases of plants transmissible between plants and man (Phytonoses) exist--follow-up paper.

The purpose of this paper is to revise the original paper by qualifying a statement made therein and making two sections more inclusive. The qualification is the insertion of the word 'adult' before the word 'volunteers' in one sentence. The scope of the first section is increased by: (i) drawing attention to the possibility that besides other organisms (i.e. non-mycoplasma-like organisms (non-MLOs)) and viruses that could be inadvertently transmitted between members of the plant and animal kingdoms, other infectious entities including viroids and prions and/or prion-like elements should also be considered in this regard; and (ii) the need to consider the possible transmission of either antibiotic-resistant MLOs and/or MLOs harbouring entities that are either naturally infectious and pathogenic for man or may opportunistically infect man. The scope of the second section is increased by proposing additional possible mechanisms of transmission of MLOs between plants and man. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.