Animal Health Research at a Time of National Security: Then What?

The biological relationship between animals and humans has never been more intertwined. The persistent outbreaks of diseases such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, the malicious spreading of anthrax spores, the emergence of West Nile Virus, and the economic impact of non-zoonotic diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, have gripped the attention and, in a peculiar way, the lure of the general public and scientific community (Table 1). These events, coupled with the plethora of other animal diseases that range from cancer to mastitis, have triggered introspection of animal health as it relates to human health, national security, and the national economy. Clearly, there are a number of medical diseases of animals, both infectious and non-infectious, that are vital to: 1) the basic understanding of disease processes that overlap in human and veterinary medicine; 2) the general health and well-being of animals (and potentially humans); and 3) the national economy and bioterrorism. In addition, veterinarians, physicians and scientists have long been aware of the many nearly identical similarities between diseases and conditions of animals to those of humans. However, animal health issues have been strongly tied with issues of agriculture such as soil science, plant health, food stamps, farm management, waste disposal, etc. This tie, in certain ways, has obscured the view of veterinary medicine and animal health as a close correlate to human medicine and health. Is it time for aspects of veterinary medicine and animal health to be viewed, sideby-side, with human medicine and health?