WSAVA OHC Calls For Global Monitoring Of Infectious Diseases In Dogs And Cats

Michael Day - OHC Chair Following a new study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA’s) One Health Committee has called for a co-ordinated global infectious disease monitoring system to be established for veterinarians who work in small companion animal practice worldwide. The study, led by Michael Day, Professor of Veterinary Pathology in the School of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Bristol and Chair of the WSAVA’s One Health Committee lists the key infectious diseases that may be transmitted between dogs and cats and man (‘zoonotic diseases’). It recommends that the knowledge gained through surveillance would permit more effective global control of small companion animal zoonoses and reduce the risks inherent within this most fundamental of human relationships. An umbrella organisation focused on enhancing the clinical care of companion animals, the WSAVA represents 180,000 veterinarians globally through 92 member associations. Its One Health Committee (OHC) aims to drive forward One Health-related programmes and research at a global level. It works in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Commenting, Professor Michael Day said: “It is well recognised that most of the major new diseases of mankind will have an animal origin and that dogs and cats are a potential source of such ‘emerging diseases’. He continued: “The number of small companion animals is particularly significant. For example there are an estimated eight to ten million dogs living in up to 31 per cent of UK homes and in the USA, 72 million dogs in 37 per cent of homes. The benefits of pet ownership on human health, well-being and development are unquestionable but, as they have moved from the barn, to the house, to the bedroom, the potential for disease spread to humans increases. Control of diseases among dogs and cats is a good way to prevent spread to humans. In human, livestock and wildlife heath there are already programmes of active surveillance for infectious disease underway to monitor the global distribution and movement of key infectious agents. For example, the WHO monitors human influenza virus infection through a network of 111 centres in 83 countries. In contrast, there is no such monitoring for the infections that may be transmitted between small companion animals and man. Meanwhile, canine rabies virus infection, one of the diseases listed in the paper, is estimated to kill a minimum of 55,000 people in Africa and Asia each year.” He concluded: “The development of such a scheme would require the significant political will, scientific application and financial support that could be achieved through a public-private partnership. The aim of our position paper in Emerging Infectious Diseases is to initiate stakeholder discussions with that end goal in mind.”

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