Foreign Animal Diseases and Agroterror:
Educational Issues

Corrie Brown
University of Georgia

Current issues in veterinary medicine – emerging diseases, foreign animal diseases, agroterror, international food safety – all point to the importance of globalizing our profession. A recent large market survey commissioned by the AVMA stresses the importance of educating veterinarians about global issues and points to many emerging opportunities for veterinarians in the field of international veterinary medicine.

What does international veterinary medicine mean? Historically, it meant working in development, that is, helping subsistence farmers in the developing world diagnose and treat their animals. This aspect of international veterinary medicine will always be available, will always be a noble calling, and will always offer minimal compensation. Today, there are three new growing areas of international veterinary medicine that are demanding increasing attention. These are: public health, wildlife, and regulatory issues.

Many recent crises in international public health, such as Ebola virus in Zaire, avian influenza in Hong Kong, and West Nile virus in the eastern United States, demonstrate how the line between human and animal diseases is becoming increasingly blurred. The "one medicine" approach advocated by Rudolf Virchow over a century ago is more relevant today than ever. It is obvious that specialists in comparative medicine, i.e., veterinarians, are needed to meet the challenge of emerging international zoonotic diseases. In order to be prepared to do this, we need to educate our students about disease possibilities all over the world and the importance of thinking "zebras" at the sound of hoofbeats on the covered bridge.

There are many wildlife issues related to international agriculture and trade that need to be addressed by veterinarians. Tuberculosis in captive cervids and brucellosis in bison are both wildlife issues with international implications for trade and agriculture. These issues involving multiple agencies and diseases of humans as well as animals require very competent individuals to navigate the politically charged climates that the issues engender. We need to be training students to be aware of the complexity of these problems and the reverberating impacts the decisions will have.

International regulatory veterinary medicine concerns foreign animal diseases, agricultural economics, and emerging diseases. There are many more issues in this basket than ever before. The march of foot-and-mouth disease across Asia and now Europe has created havoc that demands veterinarians with training in international animal agriculture and disease control. Given the volume of people in the world today and the incredible interconnectedness of international trade in food, issues of foreign animal diseases, agricultural economics, and emerging diseases can only continue to grow. If we are not preparing tomorrow’s veterinarians to deal with these problems, we are courting disaster for our profession.

Veterinary colleges are beginning to recognize the tremendous need for educating students in international matters. However, there are roadblocks to change. Curricular change is a slow process, and at a time when faculty members are feeling increasingly stretched, they are being asked to take on a new task. However, there are some programs on the horizon.

Several veterinary colleges have grouped themselves together to form consortia for competitive federal funding. Iowa State University, University of California at Davis, Texas A&M University and the University of Georgia, along with help from USDA-APHIS have secured funding to develop an internet-based training program on foreign animal diseases. Each college is responsible for the development of several computer modules involving a specific disease or mechanism of control. The final result will be a complete stand-alone course that could be used by every school of veterinary medicine, so that no single school has to "reinvent the wheel" to develop an effective course on this topic.

Texas A&M University and the University of Georgia have collaborative programs aimed at giving students overseas expertise and experience. A project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense National Security and Education Program, sends groups of veterinary students to Brazil, Argentina and Chile, to a workshop where they interact with students from the partner country to discuss a particular problem of international importance in animal health. To date, several webpages have been developed to describe the students’ experience and findings: www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/nsep. Another federal grant, from the U.S. Department of Education, funds individual student trips to Mexico or Canada, in a sort of "backpacking veterinary medicine" experience. To date, over 40 students have taken advantage of this program, spending weeks to months shadowing foreign veterinarians in very diverse roles, from small animal medicine to veterinary forensics.

Certificate programs in international veterinary medicine have been developed at both the University of Georgia and Texas A&M University. These programs require an international experience, foreign language expertise, and a program of specific coursework, all done in addition to the routine DVM curriculum. Students successfully completing the program are awarded a certificate of international veterinary medicine, either at the time of completion of the DVM degree or in concert with a Master’s program.

Distribution of training materials on foreign animal diseases to academic institutions has been a problem. The United States Animal Health Association produces the classic textbook on foreign animal diseases. Now in its sixth edition, this book is the most complete reference to all of the foreign animal diseases. This book is given to all federal veterinarians but its cost of $25 per copy makes it prohibitive for veterinary students. Through a generous grant from Bayer Animal Health, this textbook is being converted at the University of Georgia into web format and will be available on the internet in the very near future (www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/gray_book). In addition, CD’s containing all of the webpages will be distributed to every graduating senior throughout the United States.

In summary, the need for advancing international aspects of veterinary education is apparent. With the global interconnectedness of people, animals and diseases, this is a true growth area in our profession. We need to act rapidly if we are to take advantage of these opportunities and move our profession forward. As Yogi Berra once said, "The future ain’t what it used to be." At several colleges, there are active programs in place to help create a cadre of veterinarians prepared to deal with these crucial global issues. Through creation of internet linkages and distance education, we hope to extend these programs to all colleges of veterinary medicine.