Veterinary Education and Training on Non-Traditional Companion Animals, Exotic, Zoo, and Wild Animals: Concepts Review and Challenging Perspective on Zoological Medicine

Abstract

The role of veterinarians is becoming more significant and necessary to support the welfare and health not only of non-traditional companion animals and wildlife animals, but also of humans and the environment. The importance of the One Health/One World concept and its social impact is increasing significantly, accompanied by the notoriety of new emerging and reemerging zoonoses. This paper aims to review and anchor the main concepts and professional applications of zoological medicine, which has been extensively discussed and adapted in recent decades. In addition, we analyse the main social demands, training, and educational needs and the perception of veterinary professionals relating to this specialised veterinary discipline. Our final goal is to reinforce the use of the term zoological medicine and contribute to highlight the need to foster and underpin specific educational policies and programs on this matter in the veterinary curricula. Zoological medicine should be the appropriate and agreed-upon term in the academic language concerning the veterinary medicine of pets, wild, or zoo species, excluding traditional domestic animals, and integrating the principles of ecology and conservation, applied to both natural and artificial environments. This discipline has suffered an intense evolution covering applications in private clinics, zoos, bioparks, and wildlife. All this implies current and future challenges for the veterinary profession that can only be addressed with greater and better attention from multiple perspectives, especially the education and training of professionals to improve and specialise in their professional scope of services.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Zoo Animals and Phylogenetic Characterization of Toxascaris leonina (Linstow, 1902) and Baylisascaris transfuga (Rudolphi, 1819) in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China

“…Despite the global prevalence of GI parasites in wildlife [6], there has been limited research conducted on their prevalence in zoo animals within eastern China. Prevention and control of parasitic diseases in wildlife is the responsibility of zoo veterinarians [7]. To effectively evaluate and regulate the impact of intestinal parasites on animal populations, including zoonotic pathogens, it is essential to assess their prevalence within wildlife populations.…”

Exploring the Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella and commensal Escherichia coli from Non-Traditional Companion Animals: A Pilot Study

“…Today, however, trends in pet ownership are evolving towards exotic animals such as snakes, lizards, exotic birds, rabbits or ferrets, among others, whose populations have increased by almost 25% in the last decade [2,3]. These animals are classified as non-native species in their current habitat, encompassing new species that are legally allowed to be kept at home [4]. However, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) refers to them as non-traditional companion animals (NTCAs), as this term better describes the species in question.…”

“…However, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) refers to them as non-traditional companion animals (NTCAs), as this term better describes the species in question. This is because some species may be indigenous to one country rather than another yet have recently been introduced into households as companion animals [4]. Several research studies highlight the importance of NTCAs, such as reptiles, as they can act as reservoirs and sources of Salmonella infection [5,6], a bacterium that is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the priority pathogens with higher antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide, which needs to be studied and monitored [7].…”