Pets in modern society: hidden threats

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The increasing popularity of pet ownership, encompassing both traditional and exotic species, presents a growing concern.
• Pets can act as reservoirs for zoonotic infections, posing a significant but often overlooked threat to human health.
• Current control strategies may be insufficient to address the complex nature of zoonotic disease transmission from diverse animal populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role of pets as a source of zoonotic infections.
• To emphasize the need for an integrated, interdisciplinary program for controlling zoonotic disease spread.
• To advocate for collaborative efforts among various specialists to mitigate infection risks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on zoonotic diseases transmitted by pets.
• Analysis of the intersection between human and animal health sectors.
• Conceptual framework development for an interdisciplinary control program.

Main Results:

• Pets are identified as a significant source of zoonotic infections.
• The complexity of zoonotic disease control requires a multidisciplinary strategy.
• Effective management necessitates collaboration between medical, veterinary, public health, and laboratory professionals.

Conclusions:

• An interdisciplinary program is essential for managing zoonotic infection risks from pets.
• Joint efforts are required to safeguard public health from zoonotic disease threats.
• Veterinarians and medical professionals must work together to control zoonotic disease transmission.