Animals as Sentinels of Human Environmental Hazards

描述(由申请人提供)： 越来越多的证据表明，野生动物、家畜和伴生动物，由于它们更容易受到影响和持续暴露，可能会对人类环境健康威胁提供早期警告。动物作为人类环境健康危害哨兵项目将使用一种基于互联网的互动方式，鼓励兽医和野生动物生物界中可能不太熟悉人类健康信息的个人使用NLM数据库，并帮助人类健康专业人员更好地了解有关野生动物、家畜和同伴动物的科学文献。它解决了目前获取动物哨兵信息的两个主要问题。首先，有关环境危害影响野生动物、同伴和家养动物的报道很难从大量关于实验动物的文献中分离出来。其次，NLM数据库可能不包括报道野生动物和其他动物健康事件的所有期刊，因此有必要搜索补充文献。 通过努力克服这些障碍，该项目将实现NLM的长期目标，即组织和提供卫生信息，并鼓励卫生专业人员和公众使用高质量的信息。该项目将实现以下具体目标： 1.建立一个全面的网站和可上网的动物研究数据库，作为人类环境健康危害的哨兵。该数据库将有到NLM在线数据库和在线文件交付服务的链接。 2.使用由专业咨询小组制定的方法对动物哨兵研究进行管理。 3.为网站编写用户和背景支持材料。 4.与目标用户群体一起对数据库和网站的使用和内容进行持续的外联、推广和评价，并根据用户的信息需求更新必要的格式和信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A growing body of evidence suggests that wildlife, domestic, and companion animals, due to their greater susceptibility and ongoing exposures, may provide early warning of human environmental health threats. The Animals as Sentinels of Human Environmental Health Hazards Project will use an internet-based, interactive approach to encourage use of NLM databases by individuals in the veterinary and wildlife biology community who may be less familiar with human health information, as well as helping human health professionals better understand the scientific literature concerning wildlife, domestic, and companion animals. It addresses two major problems with current access to animal sentinel information. First, reports of environmental hazards affecting wildlife, companion, and domestic animals are difficult to separate from the vast literature on laboratory animals. Second, the NLM databases may not include all the journals reporting on wildlife and other animal health events, making it necessary to search the complementary literature. By working to overcome these barriers, the project will address the NLM long-range goals of organizing health information and providing access to it, as well as encouraging the use of high quality information by health professionals and the public. The project will accomplish the following specific aims: 1. The creation of a comprehensive Web site and Web-accessible database of studies of animals as sentinels of human environmental health hazards. The database will have links to NLM online databases and online document delivery services. 2. The curation of animal sentinel studies using methodology developed by a professional advisory group. 3. Development of user and background support materials for the Web Site. 4. Ongoing outreach, promotion, and evaluation of the usage and content of the database and Web Site with target user groups, updating the format and information as necessary to fit the information needs of users.