Pet Animals: Between Old and New Health Challenges

Abstract

The cultural revolution in the approach to zoonoses marked by the birth of Veterinary Urban Hygiene (VUH) is already 28 years old and reaching full maturity. Its recent origin highlights the place where this cultural phenomenon originated: the Institute of Infectious Diseases, Profilaxis and Veterinary Hygene in the University of Bologna. Despite the fact that VUH is a new science, interest in the presence of animal in cities by the governors was also well documented in the past when, during pestilences, they were considered to be plague spreaders. However, from a historical point of view, the official birth of VUH is considered the WHO Expert consultation on Some Veterinary Public Health Problem Associated with Intensive Large Scale Animal Production, Animals in Urban Areas and Chemical Residues in Food of Animal Origin, held in Rome in 1977 (Bellani et al., 1978). The first step taken was the classification of urban areas (this concept, however, varies largely in different countries), and of the environments and the categories of animals they harbours. At this stage the ecological approach was considered as relevant as the holistic one. Afterwards the different zoonoses were identified according to their epidemiological patterns, i.e: zoonoses with an urban cycle (those that are able to perpetuate themselves indefinitely in the urban environment); zoonoses derived from environmental “animalisation” (the enrichment of soil or water with animal material, such as hair, skin scales, crusts, faeces, etc., thus transforming the soil or water into a cultural medium suitable for the growth of pathogens); zoonoses transferable from the rural habitat and vice versa and, finally, imported zoonoses (Mantovani, 1983). A strong network of technical support was thus established for the evolution of those problems that over recent decades were brought to the attention of Veterinary Public Health in urban areas.