The Role of Veterinarians in One Health Implementation: Bridging Animal, Human and Environmental Health

Mahendra Pal^1, , Ravindra Zende², Tesfaye Rebuma³, Aishwarya Nair² and Sônia de Avila Botton⁴

¹Narayan Consultancy of Veterinary Public Health, and Microbiology, B-103, Sapphire Lifestyle, Maktampur Road, Bharuch, Gujarat, India

²Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary Science, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

³Sheger City Administration, Sebeta Sub-City Agricultural Office, Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia

⁴Laboratório de Pesquisas Micológicas (LAPEMI), Prédio 20, Sala 4139, CEP 97105-900, Santa Maria- RS- Brasil

Cite this paper:
Mahendra Pal, Ravindra Zende, Tesfaye Rebuma, Aishwarya Nair and Sônia de Avila Botton. The Role of Veterinarians in One Health Implementation: Bridging Animal, Human and Environmental Health. American Journal of Public Health Research. 2026; 14(2):18-24. doi: 10.12691/ajphr-14-2-1

Abstract

Veterinarians occupy a central position in implementing the One Health framework, which emphasizes the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. Since over 60% of infectious diseases affecting humans and more than 75% of newly identified or re-emerging infections originate from animals, veterinarians are uniquely positioned to prevent, detect, and address health risks at the intersection of these domains. Their roles encompass more than just clinical services; they also include monitoring zoonotic diseases, ensuring food safety, fighting antimicrobial resistance, managing ecosystem health, and shaping public health policies. By collaborating with experts in fields such as medicine, environmental science, and public health, veterinarians contribute crucial knowledge in areas including epidemiology, diagnostics, biosecurity, and risk assessment. This review gathers contemporary insights into the diverse roles veterinarians fulfil within the One Health framework and highlights their significant contributions to global health security. Enhancing veterinary education, capacity, and involvement in policy-making is vital for the successful execution of One Health and for addressing pressing concerns such as emerging zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food insecurity, and health issues tied to climate change.

Keywords:
Antimicrobial Resistance Disease Surveillance Environmental Health Food safety One Health Public health Veterinarians Zoonotic Diseases

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About One Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, 2024. [Online]. Available: . [Accessed Feb. 20, 2025].
[2]	FAO, UNEP, WHO. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organization and World Organization for Animal Health, One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026): Working together for the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment, FAO, Rome, 2022. [Online]. Available: .
[3]	WHO. World Health Organization, Operational framework for One Health implementation at the country level, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2023. [Online]. Available: .
[4]	WHO. World Health Organization, One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026), World Health Organization, Geneva, 2022.
[5]	Zinsstag, J., Schelling, E., Waltner-Toews, D. and Tanner, M., "From 'one medicine' to 'one health' and systemic approaches to health and well-being", Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 101 (3–4), 148–156. 2011.
[6]	Pal, M., Zoonoses, 2nd ed., Satyam Publishers, Jaipur, 2007.
[7]	Pal, M., Gebrezabiher, W. and Rahman, M.T., "The roles of veterinary, medical and environmental professionals to achieve One Health", Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 1 (4), 148–155. 2014.
[8]	Destoumieux-Garzón, D., Mavingui, P., Boetsch, G., Boissier, J., Darriet, F., Duboz, P., Fritsch, C., Giraudoux, P., Le Roux, F., Morand, S., Paillard, C., Pontier, D., Sueur, C. and Voituron, Y., "The One Health concept: 10 years old and a long road ahead", Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 857750. 2022.
[9]	UNEP. United Nations Environment Programme, Preventing the next pandemic: Zoonotic diseases and how to break the chain of transmission, UNEP, Nairobi, 2023. [Online]. Available: .
[10]	Taylor, L.H., Latham, S.M. and Woolhouse, M.E., "Risk factors for human disease emergence", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 356 (1411), 983–989. 2001.
[11]	CDC. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Zoonotic Diseases, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, 2021.
[12]	Pal, M., "Public health concern due to emerging and re-emerging zoonoses", International Journal of Livestock Research, 3 (1), 56–62. 2013.
[13]	Bonilla-Aldana, D.K., Dhama, K. and Rodriguez-Morales, A.J., "Revisiting the One Health approach in the context of emerging zoonotic diseases", Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 52, 102560. 2023.
[14]	WOAH. World Organisation for Animal Health, One Health and animal health systems strengthening, WOAH, Paris, 2024. [Online]. Available: .
[15]	Cleaveland, S., Sharp, J., Abela-Ridder, B., Allan, K.J., Buza, J., Crump, J.A., Davis, A., Del Rio Vilas, V.J., De Glanville, W.A., Kazwala, R.R. and Kibona, T., "One Health contributions towards more effective and equitable approaches to health in low-and middle-income countries", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 372 (1725), 20160168. 2017.
[16]	Johnson, I., Hansen, A. and Bi, P., "The challenges of implementing an integrated One Health surveillance system in Australia", Zoonoses and Public Health, 65 (1), e229–e236. 2018.
[17]	WHO, UNEP, WOAH. World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme and World Organisation for Animal Health, One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022–2026): Working together for the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2022.
[18]	Zhang, L., Guo, W. and Lv, C., "Modern technologies and solutions to enhance surveillance and response systems for emerging zoonotic diseases", Science in One Health, 3, 100061. 2024.
[19]	Singh, S., Sharma, P., Pal, N., Sarma, D.K., Tiwari, R. and Kumar, M., "Holistic One Health surveillance framework: Synergizing environmental, animal, and human determinants for enhanced infectious disease management", ACS Infectious Diseases, 10 (3), 808–826. 2024.
[20]	Elnaiem, A., Mohamed-Ahmed, O., Zumla, A., Mecaskey, J., Charron, N., Abakar, M.F. and Dar, O., "Global and regional governance of One Health and implications for global health security", The Lancet, 401 (10377), 688–704. 2023.
[21]	Mohamed, A., "The synergies between international health regulations and One Health in safeguarding global health security", Science in One Health, 3, 100078. 2024.
[22]	Amuasi, J.H. and Winkler, A.S., "Future trajectories for One Health", The Lancet, 406 (10502), 426–429. 2025.
[23]	Nwokedi, V.U., Okafor, B.C., Agbo, O.S., Ezeamii, V.C., Ani, C.P., Mustapha, F.A., Shoyebo, O.G., Foster-Pagaebi, E. and Chinyere, D.B., "One Health approach: integrating human, animal, and environmental health for infectious disease control", International Journal of Pathogen Research, 14 (3), 123–135. 2025.
[24]	Noah, D.L., "Role of veterinarians in public health and One Health", MSD Veterinary Manual, 26. 2022.
[25]	Guardabassi, L. and Prescott, J.F., "Antimicrobial stewardship in small animal veterinary practice: From theory to practice", Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, 52 (2), 329–346. 2022.
[26]	Pal, M., "Importance of zoonoses in public health", Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 75 (5), 586–591. 2005.
[27]	Häsler, B., Gilbert, W., Jones, B.A., Pfeiffer, D.U., Rushton, J. and Otte, M.J., "The economic value of One Health in relation to the mitigation of zoonotic disease risks", in One Health: The Human-Animal-Environment Interfaces in Emerging Infectious Diseases: The Concept and Examples of a One Health Approach, 127–151. 2012.
[28]	Pal, M., "Scrub typhus: An emerging and re-emerging metazoonosis of public health significance", Madridge Journal of Immunology, 1 (1), 16- 17. 2017.
[29]	Pal, M., "Severe acute respiratory syndrome: A newly recognized viral zoonosis of public health concern", Acta Scientific Microbiology, 1 (6). 01. 2018.
[30]	Pal, M. and Gutama, K.P., "Can Nipah virus be considered as a potential pathogen for next pandemic? A critical appraisal", American Journal of Infectious Diseases, 9 (4), 122- 128. 2021.
[31]	Pal, M., Regassa, M., Rebuma, T., Zende, R., Upadhyay, D. and Panicker, N., "Antimicrobial resistance: Navigating an unfolding public health crisis", American Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 12 (1), 27–35. 2024.
[32]	Pal, M., "Leptospirosis: An emerging yet neglected occupational zoonosis of global public health concern", International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Research, 10 (1), 10–14. 2026.
[33]	WHO. World Health Organization, Zero by 30: The Global Strategic Plan to End Human Deaths from Dog-Mediated Rabies by 2030, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2018.
[34]	FAO. Food and Agriculture Organization, The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025, Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, 2019.
[35]	Marbán-Castro, E., Mattar, S. and González, M., "Reemerging zoonoses with 'One Health' approach", Revista MVZ Córdoba, 24 (3), 7280–7284. 2019.
[36]	EFSA. European Food Safety Authority, "Risk-based meat inspection and official controls in food-producing animals", EFSA Journal, 20 (1), e07002. 2022.
[37]	Baars, E.W., Weiermayer, P., Szőke, H.P. and van der Werf, E.T., "The introduction of the global traditional, complementary, and integrative healthcare (TCIH) research agenda on antimicrobial resistance and its added value to the WHO and the WHO/FAO/UNEP/WOAH 2023 research agendas on antimicrobial resistance", Antibiotics, 14 (1), 102. 2025.
[38]	Hathaway, S.C., "Food safety: The veterinary contribution", Revue Scientifique et Technique (Office International des Epizooties), 32 (2), 381–392. 2013.
[39]	Newell, D.G., Koopmans, M., Verhoef, L., Duizer, E., Aidara-Kane, A., Sprong, H., Opsteegh, M., Langelaar, M., Threfall, J., Scheutz, F. and van der Giessen, J., "Food-borne diseases—the challenges of 20 years ago still persist while new ones continue to emerge", International Journal of Food Microbiology, 139, S3–S15. 2010.
[40]	Thrusfield, M., Veterinary Epidemiology, 4th ed., Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2018.
[41]	Grace, D., Mutua, F.K., Ochungo, P., Kruska, R.L., Jones, K., Brierley, L., Lapar, M.L., Said, M.Y., Herrero, M., Phuc, P.M. and Thao, N.B., Mapping of poverty and likely zoonoses hotspots, Zoonoses Project 4, Report to DFID, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, 2012.
[42]	Normile, D., "Rinderpest: Driven to extinction", Science, 332 (6030), 418–419. 2011.
[43]	Hossain, H., Chowdhury, M.D.S.R., Khan, S., Ahmad, T., Brishty, K.A., Rahman, M., Rahman, M.N., Akter, S., Nitu, A.S., Koly, J.S., Haque, M.D.S., Mashrur, M.D.N., Imranuzzaman, M.D., Akhtar, T., Mahmud, M.S., Alam, M.D.S., Rahman, M.D.M. and Rahman, M.D.M., "Emerging zoonotic diseases: Epidemiology, public health impact, and the urgent need for a unified 'One Health' approach", Pakistan Veterinary Journal, 45 (1), 36–47. 2025.
[44]	McEwen, S.A. and Collignon, P.J., "Antimicrobial resistance: A One Health perspective", in Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria from Livestock and Companion Animals, 521–547. 2018.
[45]	Daszak, P., Cunningham, A.A. and Hyatt, A.D., "Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife-threats to biodiversity and human health", Science, 287 (5452), 443–449. 2000.
[46]	Jones, K.E., Patel, N.G., Levy, M.A., Storeygard, A., Balk, D., Gittleman, J.L. and Daszak, P., "Global trends in emerging infectious diseases", Nature, 451 (7181), 990–993. 2008.
[47]	Togami, E., Behravesh, C.B., Dutcher, T.V., Hansen, G.R., King, L.J., Pelican, K.M. and Mazet, J.A., "Characterizing the One Health workforce to promote interdisciplinary, multisectoral approaches in global health problem-solving", PLoS One, 18 (5), e0285705. 2023.
[48]	Walsh, T. R.,"A One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance surveillance and policy development", Nature microbiology, 3(8), 854-855. 2018.
[49]	Lee, K. and Brumme, Z.L., "Operationalizing the One Health approach: Global governance challenges and opportunities", The Lancet Planetary Health, 6 (1), e22–e24. 2022.
[50]	Zinsstag, J., Crump, L., Schelling, E., Hattendorf, J., Maidane, Y.O., Ali, K.O., Muhummed, A., Umer, A.A., Aliyi, F., Nooh, F., Abdikadir, M.I., Ali, S.M., Hartinger, S., Mäusezahl, D., de White, M.B.G., Cordon-Rosales, C., Castillo, D.A., McCracken, J., Abakar, M.F. and Rüegg, S.R., "Climate change and One Health: A systems-based perspective on emerging health risks", The Lancet Planetary Health, 7 (6), e451–e459. 2023.
[51]	Kahn, L.H., Kaplan, B., Monath, T.P. and Steele, J.H., "Teaching 'one medicine, one health'", The American Journal of Medicine, 121 (3), 169–170. 2008.
[52]	Blake, J., Goodman, L., Kiguli-Malwadde, E., Stroud, C. and Thomson, D., "One Health education, training, and capacity building", in Global One Health and Infectious Diseases, CRC Press, 266–332. 2025.
[53]	Steele, S.G., Toribio, J.A.L.M.L. and Mor, S.M., "Global health security must embrace a One Health approach: Contributions and experiences of veterinarians during the COVID-19 response in Australia", One Health, 13, 100314. 2021
[54]	Bardosh, K., How did the COVID pandemic response harm society? A global evaluation and state of knowledge review (2020–21), 2023.
[55]	Mutua, F., Kiarie, G., Mbatha, M., Onono, J., Boqvist, S., Kilonzi, E., Mugisha, L., Moodley, A. and Sternberg-Lewerin, S., "Antimicrobial use by peri-urban poultry smallholders of Kajiado and Machakos counties in Kenya", Antibiotics, 12 (5), 905. 2023.
[56]	Fasina, F.O., Bett, B., Dione, M., Mutua, F., Roesel, K., Thomas, L., Kwoba, E., Ayebazibwe, C., Mtika, N., Gebeyehu, D.T. and Mtui-Malamsha, N., "One Health gains momentum in Africa but room exists for improvement", One Health, 15, 100428. 2022.
[57]	Shortall, R., Mouter, N. and Van Wee, B., "COVID-19 passenger transport measures and their impacts", Transport Reviews, 42 (4), 441–466. 2022.
[58]	WHO. World Health Organization, Global report on infection prevention and control 2024, World Health Organization, Geneva, 2024.
[59]	Lerner, H. and Berg, C., "The concept of health in One Health and some practical implications for research and education: What is One Health?", Infection Ecology & Epidemiology, 5 (1), 25300. 2015..