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Animals as sentinels of bioterrorism agents
Peter Rabinowitz1, Zimra Gordon, Daniel Chudnov
1Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. peter.rabinowitz@yale.edu
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|May 18, 2006
Summary
Animals can signal bioterrorism threats, but human symptoms may appear first. Active animal surveillance is crucial for detecting ongoing risks and controlling outbreaks.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Biosecurity
Background:
- Bioterrorism preparedness requires understanding potential disease indicators.
- The role of animal populations in bioterrorism events is not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the literature on animals as early warning systems for bioterrorism.
- To assess the potential for animals to serve as markers for exposure and amplifiers of bioterrorism outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of scientific articles published between 1966 and 2005.
- Analysis of studies examining animal responses to bioterrorism agents.
Main Results:
- Animals (pets, wildlife, livestock) can provide early warning for specific bioterrorism agents.
- For some agents, human symptoms may precede detectable animal illness.
- Active surveillance of animal populations can identify ongoing exposure risks.
- Animal-to-animal transmission poses a significant challenge for controlling bioterrorism outbreaks in animal populations.
Conclusions:
- Public health strategies must incorporate active animal surveillance beyond passive event reporting.
- Enhanced capacity for active surveillance and intervention in animal populations is essential for bioterrorism preparedness.
- Integrating animal health surveillance into public health infrastructure is vital for detecting and managing bioterrorism threats.