Veterinary Public Health (VPH-1) Flashcards

A set of 30 vocabulary-style flashcards covering the definition, scope, history, and global regulatory context of Veterinary Public Health and One Health.

Veterinary Public Health (VPH)

The branch of public health that focuses on the prevention, control, and eradication of diseases, and the protection and improvement of human health through the knowledge, skills, and resources of veterinary science.

Zoonotic diseases

The surveillance, diagnosis, prevention, and control of diseases transmissible between animals and humans, such as rabies, brucellosis, and avian influenza.

Food safety

Ensuring safe and hygienic production, processing, and distribution of animal-derived foods including meat, milk, eggs, and fish.

One Health (OH)

A multidisciplinary approach delivering collaborative solutions to complex problems at the animal, human, and environmental interface to attain optimal health for all.

One Health Cycle: Early education

A process that increases the number of young people able to recognize a zoonosis, boosting early detection and control efforts.

One Health Cycle: Early prediction

The use of AI systems to increase the ability to predict an outbreak in wildlife before a spillover to humans can occur.

Anthropogenic pressure

Human-generated causal factors such as deforestation, bushmeat hunting, and climate change that cause the emergence and resurgence of zoonotic diseases.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Established in 1948 in Geneva, this organization focuses on physical, mental, and social well-being and uses the International Health Regulations (IHR) as its legal framework.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Established in 1945 in Rome, its mandate is to alleviate poverty and hunger through agriculture development, nutrition, and food security.

World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)

Established in 1924 in Paris, it provides the legal framework for disease transparency through OIE standards.

Codex Alimentarius

A collection of standards, guidelines, and codes of practice linked to food safety, quality, and trade, setting Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards

Measures governed by the WTO to protect human, animal, and plant life from risks in food, pests, and diseases, based on scientific evidence.

HACCP

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points; science-based meat inspection protocols used for food safety and trade regulations.

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)

Standards set by Codex for pesticides in food and feed crops to ensure food safety and foster international trade.

Classification of zoonoses

The categorization of diseases transmissible between animals and humans into bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal, and prion diseases.

Food-borne zoonoses examples

Pathogens including $E. coli$, $Salmonella$, $Campylobacter$, and $Listeria$ found in animal-derived products.

Veterinary Epidemiology Quantitative Tools

Specific measures and methods including incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and modeling used to study disease dynamics.

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Drivers

Factors including ecological changes, globalization, microbial adaptation, technology, human demographics, bioterrorism, and climate change.

Microbial Adaptation and Change

Pathogen evolution involving factors like antimicrobial drug resistance and increased virulence through mutation.

$$E. coli O157:H7$$

A pathogen associated with accidental contamination in modern food production, specifically cited in the context of hamburger meat.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

A disease likely caused by an interspecies transfer of scrapie from sheep to cattle due to changes in rendering processes leading to incomplete inactivation of the agent.

Historical Bioterrorism Example

The use of smallpox-impregnated blankets provided to Indians by British officers during the 7 years war ($1754-1763$).

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A national public health agency in the USA with specialized units for zoonotic diseases, foodborne illness, and emerging infections.

USDA-APHIS/FSIS

US agencies that regulate animal health, food safety, and trade.

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)

An EU body responsible for risk assessment regarding food and zoonotic threats.

International Health Regulations (IHR)

The legal framework for disease transparency used by the World Health Organization.

Habitat destruction

Human actions like logging and road building that force wildlife to invade farming landscapes or human environments, increasing pandemic zoonosis emergence.

Climate change impact on pandemics

As the Earth warms, wild animals relocate to regions with large human populations, increasing the risk of viral jumps to humans.

Poor Veterinary Services

A driver of EID where a lack of prevention, control, and sanitation measures leads to contamination of food sources or water supplies.

Environmental health (VPH)

The management of animal waste, vectors, and pollutants that impact ecosystems and human well-being.