Dr. Aastha Nagpal
Ph.D. Scholar
Department of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology
Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar
Email address: aasthanagpal06@gmail.com
Permanent address: H.No. 28, Lane. 01, Doctors Colony, Civil lines, Rudrapur, Distt- U.S.Nagar, Uttarakhand, Pin: 263153
About Covid-19 virus
A novel coronavirus emerged in human populations and spread rapidly to cause the global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Although the origin of the associated virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) remains unclear, genetic evidence suggests that bats are a reservoir host of the virus, and pangolins are a probable intermediate. SARS-CoV-2 has crossed the species barrier to infect humans and other animal species, and infected humans can facilitate reverse-zoonotic transmission to animals. SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed in cats, dogs, and ferrets. Overall dogs appear to be more resistant than cats, and ferrets have only been diagnosed in a laboratory setting, confirmed cases in pets are exceedingly rare, and fortunately result in mild or no clinical signs of illness. Cats and dogs are often in close contact with humans, and thus, it is important to determine their susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. In contrast to dogs, cats appear to be highly susceptible to the virus. It is logical to speculate that secondary transmission may occur from COVID-19 animals to humans, despite no direct evidence showing whether transmission from cats to humans can occur. Susceptibility to COVID-19 has been evaluated in laboratory animals, companion animals, and farm animals in attempts to identify animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There have been no documented cases of COVID-19 infection in horses or livestock species, and there is no evidence to date that humans represent a risk of this infection to farm animals.
Role of Veterinarian
Veterinarians should have significant roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems and protecting animals and humans from emerging and transboundary infections. Such roles should be based on the One Health framework, the application of which can reduce economic impacts on the livestock industry and food supply. Veterinarians can play a relevant role in the prevention and detection of new zoonosis and determine which ones deserve at least some consideration. Veterinarians have the responsibility to identify and reveal the risks, critical points and other epidemiological aspects involved in the transmission of an infectious agent from the animal, environment, and human interfaces. The veterinarian is an integral part of the global community of health professionals and plays a key role in the prevention and control of diseases, such as COVID-19. This professional has knowledge about other coronaviruses that affect animals and, therefore, can help in studies on the origin and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, as well as assist in the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs.
Actions by Veterinarian
Examples of specific actions by the veterinarians to combat the emergence of zoonotic diseases:
- Studies to monitor multiple factors (environmental, temporal, and others) available in Geographic Information Systems that allow indicating changes for the modeling and forecasting of diseases.
- Environmental control that indirectly interferes in the control of vectors and/or hosts amplifying agents that transmit zoonotic diseases. Veterinarians diagnose, investigate, and control indirect zoonoses and non-zoonotic communicable diseases that affect human health.
- Monitoring of wildlife through research that evaluates changes in the host and potential pathogens. Veterinarians are especially important in wildlife surveillance, which becomes a fundamental parameter in the control of emerging zoonoses because ecological changes, molecular variations of infectious agents, and wild animal-man interactions represent the main factors for the emergence of new pathogens.
- In vitro investigation regarding the evolution of the characteristics of infectious agents over time. Comparative medicine, in addition to in vitro analysis, also covers field studies in the prevention of zoonosis. A good example of this is the monitoring of diseases that occur naturally in animal populations that can signal potential threats to human health. The use of sentinel animals, which have greater susceptibility, environmental exposure, or shorter life span, has been very useful. The double meaning in interventions must be attributed to the One Health approach considering the risks shared between humans and animals.
- Health education through clarification to the population about the risks and care to be taken in human-animal contact.
- Production of diagnostic tests and vaccines using animal models based on comparative medicine. Microbiology studies combined with physiology, immunology, and behavioral ecology must be applied to asymptomatic animal hosts. They can demonstrate which mechanisms could explain the absence of clinical signs and can provide effective and applicable responses to humans. At the same time, they are specific animal models, which provide ideal conditions for the reproduction of the disease showing similarity to human responses and should be used to carry out vaccine and treatment tests before being applied to humans.
- Application of translational medicine and zoobiquity in the exchange of experiences between teams of multi health professionals.
- Inspection and control of food of animal origin. Leadership and foresight from veterinarians is needed now more than ever to preserve global food security. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens animal and plant-based food production domestically and globally. The pandemic has strained critical food production, supplies, and processing functions through COVID-19 outbreaks in some processing plants. Veterinarians are uniquely poised to help safeguard global food security and stability through contributing their expertise in food animal production, food safety, epidemiology and biosecurity. This expertise will prevent future pandemics and maintain public health infrastructure including the safety of people engaged in animal origin food production. The result could be insufficient animal protein to meet needs and demands. Most reported outbreaks of foodborne disease are due to contamination of foods with zoonotic agents, often during primary production. The Veterinary Services play a key role in the investigation of such outbreaks all the way back to the farm and in formulating and implementing remedial measures once the source of the outbreak has been identified. This work should be carried out in close collaboration with human and environmental health professionals, analysts, epidemiologists, food producers, processors and traders and others involved.
- Sanitary control in pets and production animals.
Conclusion
To control the unprecedented effect of current pandemic, there is a high need for new and innovative approach which can be possible through intersectoral collaboration and collective action. Hence, veterinary professionals constitute an invaluable workforce capable of delivering public services essential to withstanding the current pandemic and preventing future pandemics. Veterinarians possess a very valuable One Health foundation that can be put to greater use during this global pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for veterinarians to demonstrate their utility in One Health efforts. Veterinary leaders have succeeded in creating a highly respected companion animal medicine industry that supports the very important human-animal bond. Isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded many of the psychological and physical benefits associated with pet ownership. Veterinary medicine has been rapidly evolving through this period of crisis and thus indicating veterinarian’s ability to cope, adjust, and adapt; and to continue in their role as leaders of animal health and welfare and public health.
