Role of Veterinarian in Covid-19 Crisis

Abstract

Corona virus disease (Covid-19) is an acute respiratory disease caused by novel Corona virus( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2) originated from Wuhan, China. Corona viruses (COVs) are a large family of ss-RNA viruses. It is now known that Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect not only humans but also pets and other domestic and wild animals, making it a one health global problem. So veterinarian can be play role in Covid-19 Crisis. Veterinarian  can  control the  vector and/or hosts amplifying agents that transmit COVID-19. Veterinarian can play role in laboratory diagnosis, vaccination programme  and extension of preventive measures for COVID 19.

Introduction

We are currently living in an unusual pandemic, due to the spread of Corona virus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19). The pandemic originated in the city of Wuhan, in the south of China. WHO officially declared it pandemic in January 2020. Corona viruses (COVs) are a large family of ss-RNA viruses that causes a range of illnesses from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in humans. While in case of cattle, canines and pigs they can cause diarrhea, likewise in chickens they can cause an upper respiratory tract infection. COVID-19 disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan. It is now known that SARS-CoV-2 can affect not only humans but also pets and other domestic and wild animals, making it a one health global problem.  It has been proven that at least 75% of emerging diseases have a zoonotic origin, having diverse animal species as their primary reservoirs. Striking examples of these zoonoses include epidemics and/or pandemics such as the Spanish flu, H1N1, SARS, MERS, and Ebola. All the etiological agents involved in those cases were originally found in animals and spread in humans. While available data, in particular genetic sequences, suggest that the SARS CoV-2 virus emerged from an animal source, in which veterinarians have the responsibility to identify and reveal the risks, critical points and other epidemiological aspects involved in the transmission of an infectious agent from the animal, environment and human interfaces. It is in these interfaces that veterinarians can play a relevant role in the prevention and detection of new zoonoses and determine which ones deserve at least some consideration.

Role of Veterinarian in Covid-19 Crisis

Veterinarians have good knowledge of medicine, bacteriology, virology, immunology, epidemiology and extension. So veterinarians can play a role in Covid-19 Crisis.

Role of veterinarian in control of vector and/or hosts amplifying agents that transmit COVID-19

The first COVID-19 case in companion animal was reported in a Pomeranian dog from Hong Kong, China in February 2020. Later in March 2020, COVID-19 was reported from a cat in the same country. These two cases were found after their owners were reported positive for COVID-19.  Genetic sequence similarities of the SARS-CoV-2 from the owner and the pets indicated the potential of human to-animal transmission. After the first reported case of COVID-19 in a cat, other COVID-19 cases were similarly reported from other countries like Belgium, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States. Based on these reports and other evidence from experimental studies, it is now accepted that these two companion animals are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 with cats being highly susceptible and having the potential to transmit the illness to other naive cats while dogs are less susceptible. Besides cats and dogs, the golden Syrian hamsters have been also confirmed to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 in recent laboratory experiments. It was demonstrated that golden hamsters exposed to SARS-CoV-2 can be infected and were able to efficiently transmit the virus to naive hamsters by direct contact and via aerosols. Altogether, pets living in the household of people with COVID-19 are at risk of contracting the disease.  Above reports represents that SARS-CoV-2  affect not only humans but also pets and other laboratory animals. So a veterinarian can play a important role in prevention of COVID-19 spread.

Role of veterinarian in Laboratory diagnosis of COVID‑19

Laboratory of virology is established in veterinary microbiology department. Veterinarian have also expert in laboratory diagnosis of viruses. Laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in animals is similar to the viral diagnosis among humans so veterinarian can be helpful in Laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.  For diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, respiratory tract specimens from the nasal turbinate, soft palate, and tonsils are preferred. Although specimens from these sites are preferable, other specimens from other sites like rectal swabs may also be used in  situations where direct sampling is not possible due to risks to the animal or testing staff. The real-time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard and widely used method to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 in animals using the above-mentioned samples. Besides, viral isolation in cell culture, viral genome sequencing, and other molecular tests like Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) can also be used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals. Furthermore, rapid immunochromatographic tests and other serological immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Virus neutralization tests can be also used for the detection of antibodies against SARS CoV-2 in animal.

Role of veterinarian in vaccination

A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). As of March 2021, 12 vaccines were authorized by at least one national regulatory authority for public use: two RNA vaccines (the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine and the Moderna vaccine), four conventional inactivated vaccines (BBIBP-CorV, Covaxin, CoronaVac, and CoviVac), four viral vector vaccines (Sputnik V, the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, Convidicea, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine), and two protein subunit vaccines (EpiVacCorona and RBD-Dimer). As a veterinarian, especially one that helps people to understand the role of vaccines in animal health can be helpful in vaccination programme against COVID‑19. Veterinarians — who use many different types of vaccines against many different diseases in many different animals — understand that in some cases, vaccines are iron-clad necessities for disease control (e.g., rabies in pets). In other cases, they are useful tools (e.g., respiratory disease in cattle) and in others essentially worthless (e.g., Mycoplasma bovis in cattle). There are several reasons for this variation in vaccine effectiveness across diseases, some depending on the germ and some on the vaccinated animal. There are similarities between our population-based approach to animal vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccines. We already know not to expect the COVID-19 vaccine to be 100% effective in everyone. If you’re vaccinated, there’s still a chance you’ll get sick, albeit a much smaller chance than if you weren’t vaccinated this means is that the COVID-19 vaccine is not a light switch that will magically turn off the pandemic. It’s a useful tool that everyone should take advantage of, and that will help reduce the spread.

Role of veterinarian in extension of preventive measures for COVID 19

World has the opportunity to reverse disease predictions with strict preventive measures. Some strict preventive measures  enlisted: a. Wear masks while going outdoor b. Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol based hand rub or wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (WHO). c. Maintain at least 2 metre (6 feet) distance between yourself and others. d. Avoid going to crowded places (WHO). e. We should stay at home and thus remain safe, and in case we observe minor symptoms such as cough, headache, mild fever, we should self -isolate ourselves until we recover and should seek medical attention, if we have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing.These preventive interventions will be effective in reducing peak incidence and its impact on public services.

A veterinarian can be help-full in extension of these strict preventive measures by explaining the importance of these strict preventive measures to owner of animals and other people especially belong  to  rural areas  because, most of work field of veterinarian are rural area and  the people which belong to the rural area can be well explained by veterinarian.