Developing a framework for a western Canadian companion animal surveillance initiative: Case definitions and the role of the veterinarian.

Objective: Surveillance data on companion animals in western Canada are extremely limited. Previous research by the principal investigators established a list of potential canine pathogens of relevance to public health for inclusion in the Western Canadian Companion Animal Surveillance Initiative (CASI). Our objective was to assess veterinary interest in contributing to companion animal surveillance, and to gather baseline data on specific canine pathogens of interest to create surveillance-specific case definitions. Procedure: An invitation to participate in an online survey was disseminated to all clinical veterinarians across the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Results: There was a moderate level of interest (median: 7.5/10) from veterinarians to participate in the surveillance of companion animals. The majority (85%, 51/60) of veterinarians participating in the survey recorded diagnosing at least 1 of the pathogens of interest over a 5-year interval. Based on survey responses, several surveillance case definitions were formulated for pathogen groups of interest, most of which require laboratory testing for confirmation. Conclusion and clinical relevance: This study identified the willingness, practicality, and importance of veterinarians or veterinary clinics participating in companion animal surveillance.