Journal Article

HIV/AIDS Education: Still an Important Issue for Veterinarians

Davis, Radford G.

2008

Overview

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a significant cause of immunosuppression that puts infected individuals at higher risk for developing severe complications from zoonotic infections and other animal-related hazards. The number of people living with HIV grows each year, assuring that veterinary practitioners will have clients and/or employees who are afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Veterinarians need to better understand HIV/AIDS for many reasons: to dispel unfounded beliefs; to address discrimination and liability issues; to educate and protect the health of clients and employees; to help those with HIV/AIDS keep their pets; and to meet legal and professional requirements. To do this, veterinarians must become proactive in learning about HIV/AIDS and in reaching out to pet owners living with HIV/AIDS, as well as the physicians of those individuals. Through discussion on historical and contemporary issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, this article examines why veterinarians need to better understand HIV/AIDS, advocates for more time in the veterinary curriculum on the topic of HIV/AIDS, and provides resources for veterinarians and their clients.

• Publisher: Association of Schools of Public Health,SAGE Publications,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subject: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome / AIDS / AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - immunology / AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - transmission / AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - veterinary / Animals / Animals, Domestic - microbiology / Animals, Domestic - virology / Biological and medical sciences / Blood-Borne Pathogens / Clients / Cooperative Behavior / Curricula / Curriculum / Discrimination / Education, Veterinary / Employees / Employers' liability / Health education / Health Education - standards / Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / HIV / Human immunodeficiency virus / Human viral diseases / Humans / Immunocompromised Host / Immunocompromised populations / Immunodeficiencies / Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies / Immunopathology / Infections / Infectious diseases / Liability / Medical sciences / Miscellaneous / Occupational health / Owners / Patient Advocacy / Patient education / Pets / Physicians / Professional Competence / Public health / Public Health - education / Public Health - standards / Public health. Hygiene / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Risk Factors / United States / Universal Precautions / Veterinarians / Veterinary medical education / Veterinary medicine / Veterinary Medicine - standards / Veterinary surgeons / VIEWPOINT / Viral diseases / Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids / Zoonoses / Zoonoses - transmission / Zoonoses - virology