A concise review on certain important veterinary viruses in the Americas

Abstract

Animals have become an essential member for our society, with roles related to company, human well-being and therapy for some diseases, and as a source of food in many populations around the world. Animals intended for human consumption like pigs and cattle, as well as companion animals, specifically cats and dogs, are constantly threatened by multiple viral agents. This puts at risk pet owners and threatens food security in the region. Considering that control or eradication is a complex problem that involves several aspects, there is a limited success in this regard for viral diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, rabies and classical or African swine fever, this review aims to show the most important characteristics, in the epidemiological context, from farm animals virus, re-emerging viruses affecting companion animals, and emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viruses. Since viral pathogens affect animal populations and human well-being, there is a need to increase efforts to control, monitor and eradicate them from livestock and companion animals. The following sections contribute to improve the understanding of these viral agents and orchestrate actions of control entities in the Americas.