Liguori Giovanna, Costagliola Anna, Lombardi Renato, Paciello Orlando, Giordano Antonio
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli Federico II, 80138 Napoli, Italy.
Local Health Authority, ASL Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2023 May 9;13(10):1592. doi: 10.3390/ani13101592.
Animal-assisted interventions (AAI)s represent the expression of integrated medicine, according to the One Health approach. Actually, animal-assisted therapies and animal-assisted activities are implemented in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, etc. The efficacy of AAIs is based on interspecific interactions and would be impacted by different factors, such as the characters of both the animal and the handler, a suitable selection of animal species, an appropriate animal educational protocol, the relationship between the handler and the animal, and mutual relationship among the animal, the patients, and members of the working team. AAIs produce many advantages for the patients but could expose them to zoonotic-pathogens transmission. Therefore, positive animal welfare, as preventative medicine to avoid incidents or transmission of zoonosis, is a relevant aspect with implications for human and animal health and wellbeing. This review aims to summarize the current published knowledge regarding the occurrence of pathogens in AAIs and to discuss their relevance in light of health and safety in AAIs participants. In addition, this review will contribute to defining the state of the art of AAIs through a careful benefits/challenges analysis and offers discussion points on the possible future developments according to the One Health approach.
根据“同一健康”理念，动物辅助干预（AAI）体现了整合医学的理念。实际上，动物辅助疗法和动物辅助活动已在医院、康复中心等场所实施。动物辅助干预的效果基于种间相互作用，并会受到不同因素的影响，如动物和训练者的性格、动物种类的合适选择、适当的动物训练方案、训练者与动物之间的关系以及动物、患者和工作团队成员之间的相互关系。动物辅助干预给患者带来诸多益处，但也可能使他们面临人畜共患病原体传播的风险。因此，积极的动物福利作为预防人畜共患病事件或传播的预防医学，是一个与人畜健康和福祉相关的重要方面。本综述旨在总结当前已发表的关于动物辅助干预中病原体发生情况的知识，并根据动物辅助干预参与者的健康和安全来讨论其相关性。此外，本综述将通过仔细的利弊分析来明确动物辅助干预的现状，并根据“同一健康”理念就可能的未来发展提供讨论要点。
