Abstract
People, domestic animals, and wildlife are all exposed to numerous environmental threats, including harmful algal blooms (HABs). However, because animals exhibit wide variations in diet, land use and biology, they are often more frequently or heavily exposed to HAB toxins than are people occupying the same habitat, making them sentinels for human exposures. Historically, we have taken advantage of unique physiological characteristics of animals, such as the sensitivity of canaries to carbon monoxide, to more quickly recognize threats and help protect human health. As HAB events become more severe and widespread worldwide, exposure and health outcome data for animals can be extremely helpful to predict, prevent, and evaluate human exposures and health outcomes. Applying a One Health approach to investigation of HABs means that lessons learned from animal sentinels can be applied to protect people, animals and our shared environment.
Highlights
Like humans, domestic animals and wildlife can experience acute and chronic health impacts following exposure to environmental threats, such as air or water pollution
Investigation of deaths of domestic animals and wildlife has expedited recognition of human health threats associated with exposure to harmful cyanobacterial and algal blooms in water and food worldwide
In this paper we review examples of sentinel animal events that have contributed to our collective understanding of potential public health threats from harmful algal blooms (HABs), and discuss opportunities whereby investigation of HAB events using the One Health approach can expedite, optimize and guide current and future public health protections
Summary
Domestic animals and wildlife can experience acute and chronic health impacts following exposure to environmental threats, such as air or water pollution. Because of their unique habitat use, behavior, and biology, animals may be exposed to environmental pollutants more rapidly and at higher concentrations than humans residing in the same areas, making them potential sentinels for emerging threats to human health. Animal-based sentinel systems can expedite recognition of dangerous environmental conditions, illustrate pollutant bioavailability, and clarify health hazards associated with known contaminants, providing an approximation of what people might experience [1]. Investigation of deaths of domestic animals and wildlife has expedited recognition of human health threats associated with exposure to harmful cyanobacterial and algal blooms ( referred to as HABs) in water and food worldwide. In this paper we review examples of sentinel animal events that have contributed to our collective understanding of potential public health threats from HABs, and discuss opportunities whereby investigation of HAB events using the One Health approach can expedite, optimize and guide current and future public health protections
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