Frontiers in Veterinary Science最新文献

Introduction: As human medical diagnostic expertise is scarcely available, especially in veterinary care, artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly used as a remedy. AI's promise comes from improving human diagnostics or providing good diagnostics at lower cost, increasing access. This study analyzed the diagnostic performance of a widely used AI radiology software vs. veterinary radiologists in interpreting canine and feline radiographs. We aimed to establish whether the performance of commonly used AI matches the performance of a typical radiologist and thus can be reliably used. Secondly, we try to identify in which cases AI is effective.

Methods: Fifty canine and feline radiographic studies in DICOM format were anonymized and reported by 11 board-certified veterinary radiologists (ECVDI or ACVR) and processed with commercial and widely used AI software dedicated to small animal radiography (SignalRAY^®, SignalPET^® Dallas, TX, USA). The AI software used a deep-learning algorithm and returned a coded abnormal or normal diagnosis for each finding in the study. The radiologists provided a written report in English. All reports' findings were coded into categories matching the codes from the AI software and classified as normal or abnormal. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each radiologist and the AI software were calculated. The variance in agreement between each radiologist and the AI software was measured to calculate the ambiguity of each radiological finding.

Results: AI matched the best radiologist in accuracy and was more specific but less sensitive than human radiologists. AI did better than the median radiologist overall in low- and high-ambiguity cases. In high-ambiguity cases, AI's accuracy remained high, though it was less effective at detecting abnormalities but better at identifying normal findings. The study confirmed AI's reliability, especially in low-ambiguity scenarios.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that AI performs almost as well as the best veterinary radiologist in all settings of descriptive radiographic findings. However, its strengths lie more in confirming normality than detecting abnormalities, and it does not provide differential diagnoses. Therefore, the broader use of AI could reliably increase diagnostic availability but requires further human input. Given the unique strengths of human experts and AI and the differences in sensitivity vs. specificity and low-ambiguity vs. high-ambiguity settings, AI will likely complement rather than replace human experts.

Background: Liver fluke infections (fasciolosis) in sheep in Ethiopia result in significant economic losses, recently estimated at around $3,700 (185,232 ETH Birr) per year. Despite the widely use of Triclabendazole (TCBZ), Tetraclozan (TETRA), and Albendazole (ALBE) for treating fasciolosis, their effectiveness remains a significant concern. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of TCBZ, TETRA, and ALBE in treating ovine fasciolosis, with a focus on their effects on both the parasitic infection and associated biochemical parameters. Given the substantial economic burden of liver fluke in Ethiopia, identifying the most effective treatment options is essential to reducing both the health impact on livestock and the economic losses to farmers.

Methods: A field trial was conducted from May to November 2023 on 45 naturally infected sheep, divided into three groups: Group I received TCBZ, Group II TETRA, and Group III ALBE, with TCBZ as the positive control. Fecal and serum samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 post-treatment. A fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and biochemical analysis were performed.

Results: In our study, TCBZ was the most effective anthelmintic (97.8%), followed by TETRA (96.6%), and ALBE (84%). Biochemical parameters, particularly liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT) and protein levels, showed significant improvement across all groups over 21 days (p < 0.05), with enzyme levels normalizing by day 21 and protein levels by days 14-21. Albendazole significantly (p < 0.05) outperformed Tetraclozan and Triclabendazole in both biochemical parameters and eggs per gram count (EPG), with no significant difference between Tetraclozan and Triclabendazole (p > 0.05). Albendazole proved most effective for liver recovery and normalization of biochemical markers over the treatment period (p = 0.00). Among 15 Fasciola-infected animals, baseline signs included diarrhea (53%), pale mucous membranes (100%), bottle jaw (60%), and depression (80%). Post-Tetraclozan treatment, all symptoms reduced significantly over 21 days (p < 0.05). In the Albendazole group, symptoms decreased progressively, with diarrhoea, pale mucous membranes, bottle jaw, and depression notably reduced by days 7, 14, and 21.

Conclusion: TCBZ and TETRA were highly effective against ovine fasciolosis, with TETRA recommended if TCBZ is unavailable. Biochemical parameters are key biomarkers for liver damage and selecting effective anthelmintic drugs.

Chronic pain is a prevalent condition in companion animals and poses significant welfare challenges. To address these concerns effectively, veterinary clinicians must have a comprehensive understanding of the neuroanatomy of nociception and the intricate processes underlying pain perception. This knowledge is essential for planning and implementing targeted treatment strategies. However, much of the existing information on pain mechanisms is derived from studies on rodents or humans, highlighting the need for further translational research to bridge this gap for veterinary applications. This review aims to provide veterinary clinicians with an in-depth overview of the spinal nociceptive pathways in the dog and cat, tracing the journey from nociceptor activation to cortical processing in the brain. Additionally, the review explores factors influencing nociceptive signaling and pain perception. By enhancing the understanding of these fundamental physiological processes, this work seeks to lay the groundwork for developing effective therapies to manage the complexities of chronic pain in companion animals.

The study aimed to compare the effects of fermented milk permeate (MP) containing Pediococcus pentosaceus (MPPp) and P. acidilactici (MPPa) on growth performance, plasma parameters, and the faecal microbial, metataxonomic, and physicochemical characteristics of Topigs Norsvin Yorkshire piglets. A total of 36 1-day-old piglets were divided into three groups: (i) control group (C), (ii) MPPp group, and (iii) MPPa group. The treated groups, in addition to their full-fledged combined pre-starter diet, received 25 mL of MP daily. After the experiment, piglets in the MPPa group exhibited the highest weight gain, while piglets in the MPPp group showed the highest IgM concentration. Both experimental groups demonstrated increased Lactobacillus counts in the faeces. Although the numbers of Lactobacillus and Enterobacteria increased, these microbial changes did not show a direct correlation with growth performance. The feces of MPPa piglets had a unique volatile compound profile, characterized by higher levels of butanoic acid and indole levels, which may be linked to differences in their metataxonomic profile. The MPPp group showed a greater variety of bacterial patterns compared to the control and MPPa groups. Post-experiment, the MPPa group demonstrated the highest prevalence of specific bacterial species, Parabacteroides sp. 12,306, Terrisporobacter sp. 34,393, Holdemanella sp. 36,738, and Lachnospiraceae sp. In conclusion, feeding piglets with MPPa proved beneficial for achieving better weight gain while also promoting the proliferation of specific bacteria species and contributing to a distinctive VC profile in their faeces. These findings highlight the importance of further research into the metabolic pathways underlying these observations.

Introduction: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) complex. CE is globally distributed, with a particularly high prevalence in North African countries, especially Tunisia. Despite its significant public health impact and the economic burden it places on livestock production, recent data on CE prevalence in Tunisian livestock remain scarce. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CE in livestock, investigate potential differences across host species, and identify risk factors contributing to the CE transmission dynamics.

Methods: The study was conducted in two governorates located in the North-Eastern region of Tunisia. A multidimensional approach included post-mortem inspection of slaughtered animals, fertility and viability analyses of the isolated CE cysts, and molecular genotyping of the parasite was conducted.

Results and discussion: A total of 21,487 animals were examined, 15.86% of the sheep and 9.57% of the cattle were infected with at least one CE cyst, with females showing higher prevalence rates. No CE cases were detected in goats or dromedaries. In all infected animals, the infection rate increased with the age of the host. CE cysts were predominantly found in both the liver and lung of the same animal in sheep and cattle. Aborted lesions were the most common stage of infection, and multiple CE cysts were frequently observed in affected animals. Fertile CE cysts were highly prevalent in both sheep and cattle, with rates increasing with host age, confirming the critical role of sheep in the parasite transmission cycle and demonstrating that cattle in Tunisia also play a significant role in the propagation of CE. Molecular analysis confirmed the predominance of the zoonotic G1 genotype of E. granulosus sensu stricto. This is particularly concerning as the G1 genotype is also the most common genotype affecting humans. This underscores a strong zoonotic potential and highlights the need for integrated control strategies. The findings emphasize the role of the livestock-dog cycle in CE transmission, posing risks to humans living near infected animals. Effective measures, including slaughter regulations, dog deworming, public education, and enhanced veterinary surveillance within a One Health approach, are essential for reducing CE's impact on human and animal health.

Large cell gastrointestinal lymphoma (LCGIL) is the most common extranodal lymphoma in dogs, but its molecular biological backgrounds have not been clarified. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the gene mutations in LCGIL. Whole exome sequencing analysis using four dogs with LCGIL showed mutations in NACC1 gene in two dogs. Further, the six genes known to be mutated in human intestinal T-cell lymphoma, ASXL3, SOCS3, PRDM1, FYN, TET2, and ZDBF2, were found to be mutated in one dog. Then, targeted next-generation sequencing analysis was performed to validate these results using additional 31 dogs with LCGIL. As a result, the mutation in ZDBF2 genes were identified in all samples, but the same mutation was ubiquitously observed in all peripheral blood samples. As for the remaining genes, the mutations were not observed in any dogs. The targeted next-generation analysis of whole exon regions of ZDBF2 revealed the other mutations in additional three dogs. In the present study, some mutations in genes related to human intestinal T-cell lymphoma were identified, but common gene mutations were not found among most cases. These results implied the heterogeneity of molecular pathophysiology of canine LCGIL. Further studies are needed to comprehensively analyze genomic and non-genomic molecular aberrations in each canine LCGIL case.

Porcine parainfluenza virus 1 (PPIV-1) is a paramyxovirus causing respiratory infections in pigs and has been reported worldwide. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of PPIV-1 in pig farms in Thailand and Myanmar from January 2022 to December 2023. Nasal swab samples from pigs in Thailand (n = 1,042) and Myanmar (n = 449) were collected from clinically healthy pigs and pigs with respiratory signs. PPIV-1 detection was carried out using the L gene-specific RT-PCR assay. Our results showed that 3.65% (38/1042) and 7.57% (34/449) were positive for PPIV-1 in Thailand and Myanmar, respectively. The viruses (n = 15) were subjected to whole genome sequencing (n = 4) and F and HN gene sequencing (n = 11). Genetic and phylogenetic analyses showed that Thai PPIV-1 (n = 7) was grouped into PPIV-1 lineage II (American lineage) and closely related to American and Chinese strains. On the other hand, one Thai PPIV-1 strain (n = 1) and Myanmar PPIV-1 (n = 7) belonged to lineage I (European lineage) and was closely related to European, Hong Kong (China), and South Korean strains. Our findings suggest that PPIV-1s from both lineages (I and II) are circulating in pigs in Thailand, and PPIV-1 of lineage I is circulating in pigs in Myanmar, suggesting high genetic diversity of PPIV-1 in the Southeast Asia region. This study is the first to report whole-genome sequences of PPIV-1 from pigs in Thailand and Myanmar. Our result provided insights and information about the current disease status and genetic diversity of PPIV-1 in pig farms, which will benefit further animal disease surveillance, prevention, and control.

Understanding the impact of environmental and management factors on the health and behavior of dogs housed in commercial breeding (CB) facilities is critical to their welfare. The specific aims of the study were to assess (a) associations between combinations of flooring substrates commonly used in CB kennels with foot, elbow, or hock abnormalities such as pododermatitis, calluses, or interdigital furuncle and (b) the impact of flooring substrate on dog cleanliness. Dogs (N = 373) from CB facilities (N = 20), housed on combinations of concrete, gravel, and diamond-coated expanded metal were assessed. A veterinary dermatologist examined each dog's paw, toenails, elbows, hocks, body condition, and overall cleanliness. Identified conditions included wet paws (12.6%), calluses (11.26%), erythema (6.97%), and matted paw fur (6.17%). Mixed-effects logistic regression models identified an effect of sex and wet paws (OR 6.08, CI 1.23, 29.92, p = 0.03) and age with matted paw fur (OR 1.52, CI 1.12, 2.07, p = 0.007). A few conditions were identified, including pododermatitis, hygromas, and interdigital furuncles, where management alterations might result in improved outcomes and welfare states for dogs in CB facilities.

Introduction: Lameness is a common clinical issue in gestating sows and a leading cause for early culling and antibiotic treatment. Diagnostic tools are limited, but acute acute phase proteins (APPs) could offer a fast and minimally invasive method for optimizing treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate whether APP level measurements can be used as a diagnostic tool, and to identify which major acute phase proteins are elevated in lame gestating sows.

Methods: To determine this, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 50 lame and 50 clinically healthy gestating sows from 12 conventional herds. The samples were analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and pig major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP) levels using sandwich ELISA.

Results: C-reactive protein and Pig-MAP were found to be significantly elevated in lame sows compared to clinically healthy sows (p < 0.05). The acute phase protein levels were 22.4 μg/ mL for CRP and 1.19 mg/mL for Pig-MAP in lame sows, compared to 14.7 μg/mL for CRP and 1.06 mg/mL for Pig-MAP in healthy sows.Acute phase protein levels were not associated with clinical signs of inflammation on the affected leg(s), and no differences were seen in hematology parameters between lame and healthy gestating sows.

Conclusion: In this study, lameness was associated with an elevation in C-reactive protein and pig major acute phase protein.