Summary
In
the 19th century, the concept of one
medicine was embraced by leaders in the medical and veterinary
medical communities. In the 20th century, collaborative efforts
between medicine and veterinary medicine diminished considerably.
While there have been some notable exceptions, such as Calvin W.
Schwabes proposal for unifying human and veterinary medicine
and joint efforts by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World
Health Organization to control zoonotic diseases, one medicine
has languished in the modern milieu of clinical care, public health,
and biomedical research. Risks of zoonotic disease transmission
are rarely discussed in clinical care which is of particular concern
if humans and/or animals are immunosuppressed. Physicians and veterinarians
should advise their patients and pet-owning clients that some animals
should not be pets. The risk of zoonotic disease acquisition can
be considerable in the occupational setting. Collaborative efforts
in biomedical research could do much to improve human and animal
health. As the threat of zoonotic diseases continues to increase
in the 21st century, medicine and veterinary medicine must
revive one medicine in order to adequately address these
challenges. One medicine revival strategies must involve
medical and veterinary medical education, clinical care, public
health and biomedical research.
Keywords
Biomedical
research, Collaboration, Education, One medicine, Physicians, Veterinarians,
Zoonoses.
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