FROM EVE’S SNAKE TO MOLECULAR DOGS-Evolution & perspectives on health risks & advantages of animal-human-environment interaction

Humans not only have animal ancestors, shared with modern primates, but, since prehistorical times, have also coexisted and evolved alongside several animal species to adapt to environment. Animals have followed their owners during migrations and the gradual living displacement from rural areas to cities. Animal breeding was soon flanked by domestication, to provide protection and help people in every day civil and military life, then company, and finally, to animal application to activities aimed at safeguarding human life and health, thus creating privileged bonds. On the other hand, urbanization, and environmental pollution, mostly derived from human activities, significantly contribute to the wide spread of animal (wild and domestic) and human infections and non-communicable diseases, that, in turn, impact on the equilibrium and interactions among living beings, and could be responsible of profound demographic changes. The aim of this multidisciplinary congress is to make scientists from prestigious Italian and foreign Universities, representatives of Food Safety and Environmental Agencies, representative of Army and Law Enforcement Agency Dog Units, and experienced trainers of animals dedicated to assisted therapies discuss potential drivers and mechanisms of sense evolution and reproduction in animals and humans, as well as reciprocal benefits and risks of their interactions in different environmental settings, for clinical, psychological and ethical aspects, to enhance awareness and hypothesize strategies to improve environmental sustainability, using the One Health and Circular Health approach.