The One Health Committee of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched the first Certificate Programme to focus specifically on the role of companion animals in One Health. While the general concept of One Health is well understood in relation to the interactions between production animals, wildlife, the environment and human health, the WSAVA believes that the growing significance of the human-companion animal bond in One Health is not yet fully appreciated. It hopes that its new online course, aimed at both veterinarians and human physicians, will help to bridge this ‘knowledge gap.’
The development of the programme, which is free of charge for WSAVA members, has been led by WSAVA One Health Committee (OHC) Chair Michael Lappin DVM, PhD, DACVIM from the Centre of Companion Animal Studies, Colorado State University, USA. It will ultimately comprise 20 modules covering all aspects of One Health as it relates to companion animals. Modules are currently being added weekly with all 20 expected to be available early in 2020. Each module ends with an assessment and, once the assessments have been completed successfully for all modules, a Certificate will be provided for in-clinic display. The modules may be used for online continuing education credit in some countries.
The WSAVA OHC felt that it was important to develop the course in recognition of the huge and growing impact of companion animals in human society. In addition to existing high levels of pet ownership in western countries, the popularity of owning pets – and the diversity of animals now considered to be “companions” – is growing rapidly in other regions of the world including South America and Asia. In parts of Africa, dogs are routinely kept, partly to work and partly for companionship – and in many parts of the world – free-roaming dogs and cats are often owned by their local human community and interact with them. The implications for One Health, in terms of the human-companion animal bond and potential transmission of zoonotic disease are increasing accordingly.
Commenting on the Certificate programme, Professor Lappin said: “The lecturers in this course are true experts in the field of companion animal One Health. The WSAVA thanks them for volunteering their time to develop this course. Hopefully, our WSAVA members will enjoy learning about issues and become certified WSAVA One Health Practitioners by completing all the modules.”
Emeritus Professor Michael Day, WSAVA Honorary Treasurer and founding chairman of the WSAVA OHC added: “The OHC has been working for several years to develop this exciting new programme which will cover many aspects of companion animal One Health, including the human–companion animal bond, zoonotic infectious disease, comparative and translational clinical research, domestic violence and animal abuse, and modules on specific One Health issues, such as canine rabies, leishmaniosis and obesity.
“I encourage all WSAVA members to sign up to the programme to become certified as a ‘WSAVA One Health Practitioner’. We hope it will also prove valuable for our human physician colleagues, strengthening the links between our professions.”
Information on the course, including the introductory video can be found on the Colorado State University website.
