A One Health Perspective on the Human-Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Public Health
• Zoonotic Disease Epidemiology
• Human-Animal Interactions

Background:

• The role of companion animals has shifted from working animals to social companions, significantly impacting human well-being.
• While pets offer physical and mental health benefits, they can also transmit zoonotic infections.
• The One Health initiative, a global health strategy, often overlooks the significant role of companion animals like dogs and cats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the positive and negative One Health implications of the human-companion animal relationship.
• To specifically focus on the zoonotic aspects related to cats and dogs in industrialized nations.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted.

Main Results:

• Companion animals positively influence human health, with owners increasingly prioritizing pet welfare.
• Changing human attitudes towards pets have led to negative outcomes, including altered feeding, extreme breeding, behavioral issues, and increased anthropozoonoses.
• Human risk of zoonotic infection transmission is elevated due to practices like co-sleeping, allowing pets to lick faces/wounds, bites, exotic pet ownership, and imported rescue animals.

Conclusions:

• The human-companion animal bond requires continuous re-evaluation due to its dynamic nature.
• Recommendations for responsible pet ownership, encompassing hygiene, breeding, feeding, housing, and ethical animal care, are essential.
• Veterinarians and physicians should integrate education on these One Health issues within their practices.