Vishal Raia* and KaushalKishorRajaka
aDivision of Biological Products, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, UP, India
*Corresponding author: roger.vish@gmail.com
Introduction
Since its emergence in December, 2019 in China, the coronavirus disease(COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has left the whole world in a state of paralysis. As of 30th May, 2020, the total number of global and Indian cases stands at 5,704, 736 and 173,763, respectively1, 2.The figures for the number of people who have succumbed to this emerging disease stands at 3, 57,736 and 4971 at the global level and in India, respectively1, 2. As frightening as these figures are, one still has to remember that these are mere numbers anddoesn’t paint the actual picture, as the true effects of COVID-19 are much more widespread. The nationwide imposed lockdown, suspension of non-essential services and its associated hardships have affected the downtrodden in more ways than one can imagine. In such a scenario, it becomes imperative for everyone to contribute in every way possible towards the mitigation strategies. The focus of this article lies in the rolesthat veterinarians are playing or can play in the ongoing battle.
Time to recapitulate the concept of “One Health”
How can veterinarians act as frontline workers for a human pandemic? This question might pop up in the mind of a layman. But here the concept of “One Health” comes into play.Introduced at the beginning of the 2000s, it preaches that “human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist”3. It means that we need healthywildlife, livestock and companion animals along with a healthy environment in which they interact with humans in order to get a healthy human population. This is well exemplified by some of the recent statistics on human diseases, such as 60% of the existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic, 75% of the emerging infectious human diseases have animal origin and five new human diseases appear every year, out of which three have animal origin3. The term “zoonotic” is applicablefor those diseases which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man. COVID-19 is also speculated to have animal origin, which crossed the species barrier to infect humans with other mammals possibly acting as intermediate host4. So, the emergence of COVID-19 aptly connotes the significance of the “One Health” concept.
Fig.1. Schematic representation of the “One Health” concept.
Veterinarians being associated with one of the pillars of the “One Health” concept therefore have a vital role to play in human health.
Responsibilities of a veterinarian
1) Veterinary clinicians
All Veterinary clinicians, be it simple graduates or those specializing in clinical aspects are carrying out their routine works such as vaccination for prevention of important diseases and treatment of sick animals. These activities are of particular importance because of two reasons; the first has been explained in the previous section. The more a pathogen establishes itself in an animal population, the more opportunities it gets to evolve and perhaps cross the species barrier to expand its host range and we cannot let that happen.The second reason is more of a psychological nature; companion animals such as pet dogs are known to reduce the stress level in their owners, and now is the time that we need the companionship of such animals more than ever. So the treatment and vaccination of pet animals becomes important from this perspective as well, apart from the first reason.
2) Veterinarians working in commercial companies and abattoirs
Veterinarians working in commercial companies, abattoirs are entrusted with the duty of allowing foods such as eggs, milk, meats originating from healthy animals to enter the supply chain. This is of particular importance from the “One Health” perspective, taking into consideration the fact that more than 70% of the human population in India consists of non-vegetarians5and almost the entire population consumes animal products in one form or the other.
3) Veterinary Microbiologists
Veterinary microbiologists are the most important key players in the ongoing battle. They are well versed with the techniques such as RT-PCR, which is the commonly used diagnostic test for COVID-19 and know how to collect swabs from sick animals. So, there is no reason why they can’t collect swabs from suspected humans and perform these routine diagnostic tests for COVID-19. This concept has already been utilized in some of the states such as Orissa, where veterinary officers specializing in veterinary virology or veterinary microbiology are performing these roles, thereby strengthening the manpower and increasing the testing efficiency in these states. One cannot think of a reason why this cannot be adopted by the rest of the states as well. Moreover, scientists with a veterinary background in some of the most premiere veterinary institutions, such as Indian Veterinary Research Institute (Bareilly), National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (Bhopal) and National Research Centre on Equines (Hisar)are involved in routine testing of samples for COVID-19.
Apart from collecting and testing human samples, the status of COVID-19 in animals is of particular importance. There have been some recent reports where pet dogs and cats tested positive for COVID-196, 7. Although routine testing of animal samples for COVID-19 is not recommended8, veterinary virologists or microbiologists will have a key role to play if and when it is started.
4) Veterinary extension workers
Although COVID-19 has been detected in some pet and wild animals, there are currently no reports of animal to human transmission of this disease. So there is no reason to abandon your pets in these difficult times. As a matter of fact, more animals should be adopted during this crisis, as pets are great stress busters. Nonetheless, an infected individual can transmit the infection to their pets. Infected individuals must therefore isolate themselves not only from their family and friends, but their pets as well.In addition to the importance of the “One Health” concept, the aforementioned are some of the vital information which needs to be delivered to the animal owners, animal loversand the general public. Veterinarians can work as extension workers in doing the same.
Conclusion
Veterinarians are involved in controlling zoonotic pathogens at their animal source, which is the most economic and effective way of protecting people. Routine treatment and vaccination of animals is of utmost priority in face of this global crisis. Albeit this seems to be a step in improving animal health in the short term, it is actually a step in improving human health in a broader sense, as theanimal and human health is inter-dependent. Veterinary microbiologists are involved in routine testing of samples for COVID-19. In addition, veterinary extension workers are involved in educating the animal owners and the general public. So in a nutshell, one can say that veterinarians, with the array of knowledge and skills they possess, are contributing immensely towards the betterment of the nation in more ways than one under the current circumstances and working as frontline workers in the wake of this pandemic.
References
1) https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
2) https://www.mohfw.gov.in/
3) OIE (2020). https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/onehealth/
4) Malik YS, Sircar S, Bhat S, Sharun K, Dhama K, Dadar M, Tiwari R, Chaicumpa W. Emerging novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)—current scenario, evolutionary perspective based on genome analysis and recent developments. Veterinary quarterly. 2020 Jan 1;40(1):68-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2020.1727993
5) https://censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/BASELINE%20TABLES07062016.pdf
6) Sit TH, Brackman CJ, Ip SM, Tam KW, Law PY, To EM, Yu VY, Sims LD, Tsang DN, Chu DK, Perera RA. Infection of dogs with SARS-CoV-2.Nature. 2020 May 14:1-6.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2334-5
7) https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0422-covid-19-cats-NYC.html
8) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/animal-testing.html
