Once they were infections, today they are diabetes, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular problems: animal ailments resemble ours. How come?
Chronic diseases that bear a disturbing resemblance to those affecting humans are on the rise among domestic, farm, wildlife and marine animals. This was revealed by a study published in Risk Analysiswhich highlights an important aspect: often, the factors underlying these pathologies are the same for humans and (other) animals.
No longer just infections
In the work Antonia Mataragka, from the Agricultural University of Athens, recalls that chronic diseases are on the increase in the animal world: starting from the example closest to us, 50%-60% of domestic dogs and cats are overweight, a factor which is causing a growing increase in cases of feline diabetes.
Moving on to farm animals, 30%-40% of cows suffer from ketosis, a condition caused by an insufficient energy intake in the diet, while 20% of pigs on intensive farms have a form of osteoarthritis (a joint disease) due to growing too quickly.
Meanwhile, fish and other marine animals exposed to polluted waters run an increased risk of up to 25% of developing liver tumors, but among aquatic creatures – bathing in the plastic that we pour into rivers and seas – gastrointestinal tumors and cardiomyopathies are also on the rise.
The health of the environment, humans and animals is connected
The most interesting part concerns the causes of this strange “anthropization” of ailments. Which are, on the one hand, linked to genetics, that is, to the way in which we have, over time, selected animal types that are closer to our needs (such as pets with a more pleasant appearance or livestock that are easier to raise), but more vulnerable to certain pathologies, such as certain forms of heart disease in dogs.
More visible factors also contribute to the problem, such as poor nutrition or the excessive sedentary lifestyle of our animals, or even stress factors linked to the exploitation of some species that we put under pressure for selfish reasons of food consumption.
Finally, broadening our gaze further, there are causes linked to the impact of human activities on ecosystems. Urbanization, land conversion, climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity cause an increase in the conditions mentioned: for example, chemical and atmospheric pollution influence endocrine functionality in birds and mammals that live near us. And in cities, high temperatures and smog promote metabolic disorders in pets.
Under the same sky
The study reminds us how closely connected the health of the environment, people and animals is, and how knowing how to recognize the common causes of these diseases can benefit all three spheres, which exist only in relation to each other and not in isolation.
It’s the approach OneHealthwhich the covid pandemic has shown us in all its urgency.
