Animal health surveillance in pets: a systematic review

• Grant number: 19/08790-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: José Henrique de Hildebrand e Grisi Filho
• Grantee: Flávia Midori Ishikawa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Surveillance system, defined as a method that generates information about the health or disease of animal populations, is of great scientific and social importance. Animal health surveillance systems have proven to be efficient tools for the detection, control and eradication of diseases of economic and public health importance in domestic animals and pets. However, there is no established small animal surveillance system that covers the general surveillance of all diseases affecting this group of animals. This is due to the lack of prioritization by the state, since the main focus of public policies are, for the most part, on the human population and what affects it directly. However, this scenario has been changing in recent years, and the need for such system has been growing. A well-structured surveillance system would bring benefits not only to the welfare of the animals themselves, but also to the increasingly demanding population with an ever closer relationship with these animals as well as to public health, responsible veterinary practice and important sectors of the economy. There are initiatives in some countries to discuss and implement a surveillance system for small animals; however, there is not yet a compilation of this information that gathers, compares and points out relevant aspects of this experiment. In this context, this project proposes a systematic review of existing initiatives for structuring and implementing surveillance systems for pet animals. And, therefore, it allows the knowledge of the general scenario, difficulties, limitations and successes of these initiatives, important for the future development of a consistent and coherent system.