New research shows that chronic diseases (such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis) are increasingly prevalent in various animal groups, from domestic pets to wild animals, and human activities are largely responsible for this phenomenon. Today, dogs, cats, cows, turtles and other animals are experiencing health problems such as cancer, obesity, diabetes and joint degeneration.
Understanding the causes of the increase in these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is not only relevant to animal welfare, but is also critical to human health. However, current comprehensive interdisciplinary research on chronic diseases in animals is still limited.
A new study published in the journal Risk Analysis provides scientists with a new conceptual framework for monitoring and managing chronic diseases in animals. The study, led by animal scientist Antonia Mataragka at the Agricultural University of Athens, proposes an evidence-based risk assessment system and points out that humans and animals are facing similar chronic disease outbreaks, calling for greater public health attention.
By analyzing a large amount of literature data on animal NCDs, the study found that biological and environmental driving forces of the disease are widespread. Genetic susceptibility is particularly critical: As a result of selective breeding, certain groups of animals are at increased risk of developing diseases such as diabetes and valvular heart disease. For example, purebred cats and dogs and high-yielding livestock bred for specific appearances have much higher disease rates than the general population.
Environmental stress can also increase disease risk. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and chronic stress have been proven to be important causative factors across species.
Research cites typical cases of the surge in chronic diseases in various animals. For example, more than half of pet cats and dogs are obese, which directly leads to an increase in feline diabetes cases; about 20% of intensively farmed pigs will develop osteoarthritis; among aquatic animals, gastrointestinal cancer is common in beluga whales, and cardiomyopathy syndrome occurs in farmed Atlantic salmon. In estuarine ecology affected by industrial pollution (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and PCBs), the incidence of liver tumors in wild animals is as high as 15%-25%.
Mataragka pointed out that severe disturbances in ecosystems are an important reason for promoting disease epidemics. Human activities such as urbanization, deforestation and climate change exacerbate harmful environmental exposures. Ocean warming and coral degradation have been linked to increased tumors in fish and sea turtles. Meanwhile, heat stress and urban pollution are also driving obesity, diabetes and immune system abnormalities in pets, birds and other mammals.
"As environmental changes accelerate disease outbreaks, the lack of an early diagnosis system for animal chronic diseases has resulted in a serious lag in disease detection." Mataragka emphasized, "Although the World Health Organization has detailed statistics on human NCD mortality, similar data for animals are extremely scarce. This highlights the urgency of strengthening veterinary health monitoring and basic research."
The study quantitatively analyzed the prevalence of NCD in multiple species and systematically sorted out the risk factors for the disease. The paper recommends prevention and intervention at four levels: individual, group (herd), ecosystem and policy. The results show that pollution, habitat loss, dietary imbalance, climate stress, etc. all significantly increase the risk of animals suffering from chronic diseases.
The monitoring framework proposed by Mataragka combines the two concepts of "One Health" and "Ecohealth" and emphasizes the close connection between the well-being of humans, animals and the environment. The model reveals that genetic susceptibility interacts with environmental and social factors to promote similar chronic diseases in various organisms.
She hopes that this cross-disciplinary framework can promote more unified monitoring of human, animal and environmental health, achieve early warning of diseases, and reduce the burden of chronic diseases on all types of life forms.
Compiled from /ScitechDaily