A narrative review of the phenomenon of predatory journals to create awareness among researchers in veterinary medicine

In recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of predatory journals has increased significantly. Predatory journals exploit the "open-access model" by engaging in deceptive practices such as charging high publication fees without providing the expected quality and performing insufficient or no peer review. Such behaviors undermine the integrity of scientific research and can result in researchers having trouble identifying reputable publication opportunities, particularly early-career researchers who struggle to understand and establish the correct criteria for publication in reputable journals. Publishing in journals that do not fully cover the criteria for scientific publication is also an ethical issue. This review aimed to describe the characteristics of predatory journals, differentiate between reliable and predatory journals, investigate the reasons that lead researchers to publish in predatory journals, evaluate the negative impact of predatory publications on the scientific community, and explore future perspectives. The authors also provide some considerations for researchers (particularly early-career researchers) when selecting journals for publication, explaining the role of metrics, databases, and artificial intelligence in manuscript preparation, with a specific focus on and relevance to publication in veterinary medicine.

Characterization of the plasma proteome from healthy adult dogs

Introduction

Bloodwork is a widely used diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine, as diagnosis and therapeutic interventions often rely on blood biomarkers. However, biomarkers available in veterinary medicine often lack sensitivity or specificity. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology has been extensively used in the analysis of biological fluids. It offers excellent potential for a more comprehensive characterization of the plasma proteome in veterinary medicine.

Methods

In this study, we aimed to identify and quantify plasma proteins in a cohort of healthy dogs and compare two techniques for depleting high-abundance plasma proteins to enable the detection of lower-abundance proteins via label-free quantification liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We utilized surplus lithium-heparin plasma from 30 healthy dogs, subdivided into five groups of pooled plasma from 6 randomly selected individuals each. Firstly, we used a commercial kit to deplete high-abundance plasma proteins. Secondly, we employed an in-house method to remove albumin using Blue-Sepharose.

Results and discussion

Among all the samples, some of the most abundant proteins identified were apolipoprotein A and B, albumin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, fibrinogen beta chain, fibronectin, complement C3, serotransferrin, and coagulation factor V. However, neither of the depletion techniques achieved significant depletion of highly abundant proteins. Despite this limitation, we could detect and quantify many clinically relevant proteins. Determining the healthy canine proteome is a crucial first step in establishing a reference proteome for canine plasma. After enrichment, this reference proteome can later be utilized to identify protein markers associated with different diseases, thereby contributing to the diagnosis and prognosis of various pathologies.

How does chronic pain impact the lives of dogs: an investigation of factors that are associated with pain using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid

Introduction

Chronic pain can profoundly affect the wellbeing of dogs and our understanding is limited regarding the multidimensional impact it has on dog quality of life. This study aimed to assess the factors that are significant and predictive of behavior problems in dogs using the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) to further understand what factors influence their welfare.

Methods

Seventy six AWAG assessments were undertaken across 46 dogs that clinicians diagnosed as having musculoskeletal conditions that caused chronic pain. Wilcoxon-rank sum tests were used to assess the difference in scores between dogs with behavior disorders and a cohort of healthy dogs (n = 143).

Results

All physical factors besides body condition, and all psychological, environmental, and procedural factors were significantly different between healthy dogs and dogs with chronic pain, evidencing how chronic pain impacts all domains of a dog's life. Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (RS) revealed several significant strong positive correlations such as the association between the severity of clinical symptoms with poorer mobility and the frequency at which the dog experienced fearful stimuli. Logistic regression showed that fears and anxieties frequency, the dog's reaction to stressors, engagement with enrichment, and social interactions were significant predictors of chronic pain in dogs.

Discussion

This highlights that typical signs of musculoskeletal disorders such as gait changes, stiffness, lameness might manifest after behavioral changes such as increased fearfulness, prolonged recovery from a stressful event, a reduced interested in social interactions, toys or play. Owners only seeking veterinary attention when the presence of physical signs of disease are evident may result in a delayed veterinary attention resulting in reduced welfare. Regular veterinary assessments combined with use of the AWAG can proactively identify these behavioral indicators and result in prompt treatment and improved quality of life.

Application of augmented reality models of canine skull in veterinary anatomical education

Veterinary anatomy plays a crucial role in the curriculum for veterinary medicine and surgery. The integration of modern information technology in veterinary education can greatly benefit from innovative tools such as augmented reality (AR) applications. The aim of this study was to develop an accurate and interactive three-dimensional (3D) digital model of an animal skull using AR technology, aiming to enhance the learning of skull anatomy in veterinary anatomy education. In this study, a canine skull specimen was isolated, and the skull bones were scanned using a structured light scanner to create a 3D digital model of the canine skull, which was found to be indistinguishable from the original specimen by measurement of skull proportions. Furthermore, the interactive AR model of the canine skull, displayed using Unity3D, was subjected to testing and evaluation by 60 first-year veterinary medical students attending the gross anatomy of the animal. The students were divided into two groups: the traditional group and AR group. Both groups completed an objective test and a questionnaire. The evaluation of learning effectiveness in the test revealed no significant difference between the traditional group (which learned using textbooks and a canine skull specimen) and AR group (which learned using AR tools). However, in the questionnaire, students displayed high enthusiasm and interest in using the AR tool. Therefore, the application of AR tools can improve students' motivation for learning and enhance the comprehension of anatomical structures in three dimensions. Furthermore, this study exemplifies the use of AR as an auxiliary tool for teaching and learning in veterinary anatomy education.

Development and Implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure for Military Working Dog Blood Collection, Storage, and Transport

Military working canines are critical assets and force multipliers for the Joint Force. Most often deployed forward of Role 2 assets, they are reliant on non-veterinary resources when wounded, ill, or injured in an operational environment. Hemorrhagic shock is the most prevalent form of shock seen in battlefield injuries and is most effectively treated with whole blood transfusion. Dogs cannot be transfused with human blood and there is no formal Department of Defense (DoD) canine blood product distribution system to operational settings. A walking blood bank is helpful when multiple dogs are geographically co-located and the resource can be provided to an injured patient quickly. In areas as widely dispersed as the Horn of Africa, the likelihood of co-location is slim and delaying this vital resource can mean the difference between life and death. Therefore, personnel at the Role 2 facility in Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, filled a critical capability gap for the operational area by producing a local canine whole blood bank with distribution to multiple countries. This protocol can be replicated by other locations to improve medical readiness for the working canines who serve to maintain DoD Force Protection.

Pulse-wave analysis during routine blood pressure measurement shows potential to distinguish between sinus and nonsinus rhythm

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether pulse-wave analysis (PWA) performed by trained evaluators facilitates detection of nonsinus rhythm.

ANIMALS

Same-day, high-definition oscillometry pulse-wave data and ECG results of 155 animals (144 dogs and 11 cats) were analyzed.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 18 participants from various backgrounds, all of whom received PWA training. The ability to distinguish between sinus and nonsinus rhythms was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The pulse-wave datasets were divided into 5 ECG categories. Agreement between ECG diagnoses and PWA-based arrhythmia detection was evaluated using Cohen κ values, and the correlation between the academic year of veterinary students and their κ values was assessed.

RESULTS

All cardiology researchers demonstrated satisfactory accuracy in distinguishing pathological rhythms using PWA (area under the curve, 0.704 to 0.761), with the highest accuracy in detecting atrial fibrillation (area under the curve, 0.811 to 0.845). Fair agreement with ECG categorization was achieved by all 3 cardiology researchers, 2 of 5 general practitioners, and 3 of 10 veterinary undergraduates. The veterinary undergraduates' years of study were correlated with their diagnostic performance (Spearman ρ = 0.658; P = .019).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

PWA during routine noninvasive blood pressure measurement showed significant potential for the detection of pathological arrhythmias, notably atrial fibrillation. This approach yielded improved effectiveness when it was used by veterinarians with cardiology experience. Thus, introducing hands-on training courses, particularly those focused on cardiology and interactive workshops, may enable frontline veterinarians to promptly identify arrhythmias using PWA, facilitating timely ECG examinations or referrals.

Veterinary team members experiencing high levels of burden transfer are more likely to report burnout and a less optimal psychosocial work environment

OBJECTIVE

To describe burden transfer in a sample of veterinary workers employed by a Canadian veterinary corporation and to examine the association between different levels of burden transfer and employee burnout and perceived psychosocial work environment.

SAMPLE

475 employees of small-animal veterinary hospitals owned by a corporate practice group.

METHODS

Veterinary team members among 14 working groups responded to an online survey that included assessments of burden transfer, psychosocial environment, and burnout within the workplace. Participants were divided into groups on the basis of self-reported burden-transfer scores being low, mid, or high, and multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted to ascertain associations between level of burden transfer, psychosocial environment, and burnout.

RESULTS

On average, participants perceived difficult encounters with clients to occur with moderate frequency and reported reactions that were low-moderate in intensity. Individuals with high burden-transfer scores were identified in all working groups. Across the 3 burden-transfer groups, the key finding was that high-level burden transfer was associated with perception of greater emotional demands within the workplace, reduced support from supervisors, reduced feeling of social community in the workplace, and elevated rates of burnout among these participants.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Findings highlight elevated risks for a certain population of veterinary employees experiencing high levels of burden transfer and underscore the potential need for targeted interventions to support these individuals. Employees who currently react to challenging client interactions with moderate or low intensity may also benefit from these programs as a preventative measure.

ASPIRE for excellence in curriculum development

The objective of the ASPIRE award programme of the International Association for Health Professions Education is to go beyond traditional accreditation processes. Working in partnership with the ASPIRE Academy, the programme aims to encourage and support excellence in health professions education, in part by showcasing and exemplifying best practices. Each year ASPIRE award applications received from institutions across the globe describe their greatest achievements in a variety of areas, one of which is curriculum development, where evaluation of applications is carried out using a framework of six domains. These are described in this paper as key elements of excellence, specifically, Organisational Structure and Curriculum Management; Underlying Educational Strategy; Content Specification and Pedagogy; Teaching and Learning Methods and Environment; Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation; Scholarship. Using examples from the content of submissions of three medical schools from very different settings that have been successful in the past few years, achievements in education processes and outcomes of institutions around the world are highlighted in ways that are relevant to their local and societal contexts.

Evaluating injuries and illnesses that occurred during the Yukon Quest International sled dog race, 2018-2020

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate medical record data from the 2018-2020 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race to examine injury patterns and risk factors for dogs competing in multi-day ultra-endurance events. Specifically, we summarized injuries and illnesses that resulted in canine athletes being removed ("dropped") from competition, and in orthopedic injuries diagnosed in both dropped and finished dogs.

Methods

The records of 989 dogs that started the race were examined, but only records from dogs in teams that went on to finish the race were included, for a total of 711 records.

Results and discussion

Three hundred and sixty five dogs (51.3%) were noted to have at least one abnormal finding in their veterinary medical record during the race. Orthopedic injuries were most common, and 291 injuries were ultimately diagnosed in 234 dogs (32.9%). Ultimately, 206 dogs (29%) were dropped from competition, for any reason. The most common reasons for dropping dogs were orthopedic injuries (156 dogs; 188 injuries), gastrointestinal illness (22 dogs), and cardiorespiratory disease (7 dogs). Most orthopedic injuries in dropped dogs occurred in the thoracic limb (n = 121 dogs; 151 injuries). Of those, injuries to the shoulder were most common (n = 77), followed by injuries to the carpus (n = 59), and injury to the pelvic limb (n = 32). Carpal injuries were the most prevalent injury diagnosed in dogs that went on to finish the race (71 of 85 injuries). Carpal injuries were the most prevalent injuries overall in 2018 (51%) and 2019 (52%). In 2020, shoulder injuries were most prevalent (27%), suggesting that trail conditions may have differed between years. The majority of dogs with an orthopedic injury ultimately were removed from competition (156 of 234, or 66.6%), but the likelihood of finishing the race with an injury depended on the type of injury sustained; 71 of 130 dogs (54.6%) with a carpal injury went on to finish the race, whereas only 9 of 86 dogs with a shoulder injury (10.5%) went on to finish. The results of this study can assist mushers and veterinarians in preparing for races, and in decision making during endurance sled dog races.

An intervention to improve antibiotic prescription behavior in veterinary students: A protocol based on the multi-theory model to tackle antimicrobial resistance

Background and Aims

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat. Moreover, incorrect and inappropriate drug prescription behavior is considered a fundamental risk factor. Thus, the present study aims to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program based on the multi-theoretical model (MTM) in improving antibiotic prescription behavior in veterinary students of Iran.

Methods

The present study will include four phases including a qualitative phase, an instrument design and psychometric test phase, and a cross-sectional, and an interventional phase. In the first phase, the sampling will be purposive with a maximum variety. The interviews will be conducted with a sample of veterinarians.

Results

The data will be analyzed in MAXQDA 10. In the second phase, the face and content validity will be tested by a panel of experts as field specialists. A confirmatory factor analysis will be used to test construct validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intracluster correlation coefficient will be used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. Then, at this stage, a number of veterinary students will be selected through a multi-stage sampling method. In the cross-sectional phase, another sample of veterinary students will complete a researcher-made questionnaire. Then, Spearman's correlation coefficient test will be used to test the relationship between the two stages of behavior initiation and behavior continuation. The data will be analyzed in SPSS 22. In the third phase, some veterinary students will be selected through a census and will be randomly divided into a control and an intervention group. To collect data in the final phase, the researcher-made questionnaire that was designed in the second phase of the study based on a multi-theory model will be used to extract data. To compare demographic characteristics, compare the correlation between the constructs of the multi-theory model with antibiotic prescribing behavior in the cross-sectional phase and compare the scores of the constructs of the MTM in two intervention and control groups paired-samples T test and independent-samples T test will be used.

Conclusion

The present study will aim to improve antibiotic prescription behavior in veterinary students based on a MTM. The findings can be used as a model for training students in clinical fields such as veterinary medicine and general medicine at university at a national level. After verification and approval by experts and university professors, we can expect a change in the educational curriculum to include instructions on how to write out prescriptions for students. There are hopes that the present study if conducted accurately and widely to help prevent AMR in livestock, humans, and society.

Emerging role of extracellular vesicles in veterinary practice: novel opportunities and potential challenges

Extracellular vesicles are nanoscale vesicles that transport signals between cells, mediating both physiological and pathological processes. EVs facilitate conserved intercellular communication. By transferring bioactive molecules between cells, EVs coordinate systemic responses, regulating homeostasis, immunity, and disease progression. Given their biological importance and involvement in pathogenesis, EVs show promise as biomarkers for veterinary diagnosis, and candidates for vaccine production, and treatment agents. Additionally, different treatment or engineering methods could be used to boost the capability of extracellular vesicles. Despite the emerging veterinary interest, EV research has been predominantly human-based. Critical knowledge gaps remain regarding isolation protocols, cargo loading mechanisms, in vivo biodistribution, and species-specific functions. Standardized methods for veterinary EV characterization and validation are lacking. Regulatory uncertainties impede veterinary clinical translation. Advances in fundamental EV biology and technology are needed to propel the veterinary field forward. This review introduces EVs from a veterinary perspective by introducing the latest studies, highlighting their potential while analyzing challenges to motivate expanded veterinary investigation and translation.

Adult Animal Stem Cell-Derived Organoids in Biomedical Research and the One Health Paradigm

Preclinical biomedical research is limited by the predictiveness of in vivo and in vitro models. While in vivo models offer the most complex system for experimentation, they are also limited by ethical, financial, and experimental constraints. In vitro models are simplified models that do not offer the same complexity as living animals but do offer financial affordability and more experimental freedom; therefore, they are commonly used. Traditional 2D cell lines cannot fully simulate the complexity of the epithelium of healthy organs and limit scientific progress. The One Health Initiative was established to consolidate human, animal, and environmental health while also tackling complex and multifactorial medical problems. Reverse translational research allows for the sharing of knowledge between clinical research in veterinary and human medicine. Recently, organoid technology has been developed to mimic the original organ's epithelial microstructure and function more reliably. While human and murine organoids are available, numerous other organoids have been derived from traditional veterinary animals and exotic species in the last decade. With these additional organoid models, species previously excluded from in vitro research are becoming accessible, therefore unlocking potential translational and reverse translational applications of animals with unique adaptations that overcome common problems in veterinary and human medicine.

Post-mortem feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography in the detection of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot: a proof of concept

Introduction

In this proof-of-concept study, the post-mortem feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the detection of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot is described in agreement with the gold standard imaging technique, which is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

A total of five equine cadaver feet were studied, of which two were pathological and three were within normal limits and served as references. A low-field MRI of each foot was performed, followed by a DECT acquisition. Multiplanar reformations of DECT virtual non-calcium images were compared with MRI for the detection of bone edema-like lesions. A gross post-mortem was performed, and histopathologic samples were obtained of the navicular and/or distal phalanx of the two feet selected based on pathology and one reference foot.

Results

On DECT virtual non-calcium imaging, the two pathological feet showed diffuse increased attenuation corresponding with bone edema-like lesions, whereas the three reference feet were considered normal. These findings were in agreement with the findings on the MRI. Histopathology of the two pathologic feet showed abnormalities in line with bone edema-like lesions. Histopathology of the reference foot was normal.

Conclusion

DECT virtual non-calcium imaging can be a valuable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot. Further examination of DECT in equine diagnostic imaging is warranted in a larger cohort, different locations, and alive animals.

Comparison of perceptions and concerns of antimicrobial resistance between veterinary and medical health professionals

OBJECTIVE

To understand the comparative concerns and perceptions of veterinary and medical health professionals regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its effects on their clinical practices.

SAMPLE

17 Doctors of medicine and veterinary medicine and 1 nurse practitioner were interviewed to collect qualitative-based data regarding their clinical experience with AMR.

METHODS

The interviews from the health professionals were transcribed and thematically coded to reveal 3 overarching themes and 7 corresponding subthemes.

RESULTS

Both veterinary and human medical health professionals share concerns about antimicrobial resistance, specifically regarding the development of "superbugs" and increased difficulty in treating disease. However, there were some unique differences in the clinical effects of AMR between the professions in relation to client demand and satisfaction, ability to track/test trends, and approaches to therapy. Both professions also discussed the possible one-health implications of AMR and its transmission.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

There are several barriers to veterinarians that prevent them from using best-practice methods with antimicrobials that were not shared with human medical personnel, who can use antibiotic stewardship principles and readily access necessary testing. However, many veterinarians possessed a unique one-health-based understanding of how antimicrobial resistance can affect the wider community across species and globally that many human medical professionals had not previously considered. This demonstrates an increased need for one-health understanding within human medical professionals and a need for veterinarians to have access to necessary tools to comply with stewardship guidelines, such as culture and sensitivity testing and antibiograms, to have the ability to limit their contribution to antibiotic resistance.

Diabetes mellitus drug discovery: insights into targeting feline and human amylin with small molecules

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a health concern for both humans and cats, with cases rising over the past decade. Around 70% of patients from either species exhibit pancreatic aggregates of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), a protein that proves toxic upon misfolding. These misfolded protein aggregates congregate in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, diminishing the capability of β-cells to produce insulin and further perpetuating disease.

OBJECTIVE

Our team's drug discovery program is investigating newly synthesized compounds that could diminish aggregates of both human and feline IAPP, potentially disrupting the progression of T2D.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We prepared 24 compounds derived from diaryl urea, as ureas have previously demonstrated great potential at reducing accumulations of misfolded proteins. Biophysical methods were employed to analyze the anti-aggregation activity of these compounds at inhibiting and/or disrupting IAPP fibril formation in vitro.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that compounds 12 and 24 were most effective at reducing the fibrillization and aggregation of both human and feline IAPP. When compared with the control for each experiment, samples treated with either compound 12 or 24 exhibited fewer accumulations of amyloid-like fibrils.

CONCLUSION

Urea-based compounds, such as compounds 12 and 24, may prove crucial in future pre-clinical studies in the search for therapeutics for T2D.

Domestic Animal Models of Central Nervous System Tumors: Focus on Meningiomas

Intracranial primary tumors (IPTs) are aggressive forms of malignancies that cause high mortality in both humans and domestic animals. Meningiomas are frequent adult IPTs in humans, dogs, and cats, and both benign and malignant forms cause a decrease in life quality and survival. Surgery is the primary therapeutic approach to treat meningiomas, but, in many cases, it is not resolutive. The chemotherapy and targeted therapy used to treat meningiomas also display low efficacy and many side effects. Therefore, it is essential to find novel pharmacological approaches to increase the spectrum of therapeutic options for meningiomas. This review analyzes the similarities between human and domestic animal (dogs and cats) meningiomas by evaluating the molecular and histological characteristics, diagnosis criteria, and treatment options and highlighting possible research areas to identify novel targets and pharmacological approaches, which are useful for the diagnosis and therapy of this neoplasia to be used in human and veterinary medicine.

The Role of Stakeholders' Understandings in Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance: A One Health Approach

The increasing misuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine and in agroecosystems and the consequent selective pressure of resistant strains lead to multidrug resistance (AMR), an expanding global phenomenon. Indeed, this phenomenon represents a major public health target with significant clinical implications related to increased morbidity and mortality and prolonged hospital stays. The current presence of microorganisms multi-resistant to antibiotics isolated in patients is a problem because of the additional burden of disease it places on the most fragile patients and the difficulty of finding effective therapies. In recent decades, international organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have played significant roles in addressing the issue of AMR. The ECDC estimates that in the European Union alone, antibiotic resistance causes 33,000 deaths and approximately 880,000 cases of disability each year. The epidemiological impact of AMR inevitably also has direct economic consequences related not only to the loss of life but also to a reduction in the number of days worked, increased use of healthcare resources for diagnostic procedures and the use of second-line antibiotics when available. In 2015, the WHO, recognising AMR as a complex problem that can only be addressed by coordinated multi-sectoral interventions, promoted the One Health approach that considers human, animal, and environmental health in an integrated manner. In this review, the authors try to address why a collaboration of all stakeholders involved in AMR growth and management is necessary in order to achieve optimal health for people, animals, plants, and the environment, highlighting that AMR is a growing threat to human and animal health, food safety and security, economic prosperity, and ecosystems worldwide.

Research progress into the application of Mycobacterium phlei in veterinary medicine

Mycobacterium phlei is a gram-positive acid-fast mycobacterium from the family Mycobacteriaceae. It is a valuable resource for both natural drugs and microecological preparations. It has been widely used in the field of human medicine; however, in the field of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, the research and application of M. phlei is still in the preliminary exploration stage. This study aims to summarize the research progress of M. phlei in the field of veterinary medicine and provide a valuable reference for future research. Key words, such as 'M. phlei', 'veterinary field', 'immune balancer', 'genome' and other relevant words to this study, were used to search through PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases. The results showed that the culture conditions of M. phlei were relatively simple, but its bacterial composition and genome sequence were relatively complex, and various components in the cell wall may have immunoregulatory effects. Therefore, the inactivated preparation made from M. phlei can have various applications in the veterinary field, such as growth regulation, immune regulation, antitumour, anti-parasite and asthma treatment. The literature review indicates that M. phlei preparation is an efficient and convenient immune system balance agent. Despite the challenges associated with the use of M. phlei preparations, it has a strong potential for application in veterinary medicine.

Characterization of P-glycoprotein orthologs from human, sheep, pig, dog, and cat

The ATP-binding cassette transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) limits the oral bioavailability of many drugs. Although P-gp has been well studied in humans and mice, little is known about the substrate specificities of many of its species orthologs. To address this, we performed in vitro analysis of P-gp transporter function using HEK293 cells stably expressing human, ovine, porcine, canine, and feline P-gp. We also employed a human physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to assess variations in digoxin exposure resulting from altered P-gp function. Compared to human P-gp, sheep P-gp had significantly less digoxin efflux (2.3-fold ±0.04 vs. 1.8-fold ±0.03, p < .0001) and all species orthologs had significantly less quinidine efflux compared with human P-gp (p < .05). Human P-gp also had significantly greater efflux of talinolol compared to sheep and dog P-gp (1.9-fold ±0.04 vs. 1.6-fold ±0.06, p = .003 and 1.6-fold ±0.05, p = .0002, respectively). P-gp expression protected all lines against paclitaxel-induced toxicity, with sheep P-gp being significantly less protective. The inhibitor verapamil demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of all P-gp orthologs. Finally, a PBPK model showed digoxin exposure was sensitive to altered P-gp activity. Overall, our study found that species differences in this major drug transporter exist and that the appropriate species ortholog of P-gp should be evaluated during veterinary drug development.

Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Coatings for Stents in Veterinary Medicine-State of the Art and Perspectives

Microbial colonization in veterinary stents poses a significant and concerning issue in veterinary medicine. Over time, these pathogens, particularly bacteria, can colonize the stent surfaces, leading to various complications. Two weeks following the stent insertion procedure, the colonization becomes observable, with the aggressiveness of bacterial growth directly correlating with the duration of stent placement. Such microbial colonization can result in infections and inflammations, compromising the stent's efficacy and, subsequently, the animal patient's overall well-being. Managing and mitigating the impact of these pathogens on veterinary stents is a crucial challenge that veterinarians and researchers are actively addressing to ensure the successful treatment and recovery of their animal patients. In addition, irritation of the tissue in the form of an inserted stent can lead to overgrowth of granulation tissue, leading to the closure of the stent lumen, as is most often the case in the trachea. Such serious complications after stent placement require improvements in the procedures used to date. In this review, antibacterial or antibiofilm strategies for several stents used in veterinary medicine have been discussed based on the current literature and the perspectives have been drawn. Various coating strategies such as coating with hydrogel, antibiotic, or other antimicrobial agents have been reviewed.

User Drafts for the Design of an mHealth Application for Equestrians

A study was conducted to find out user ideas for the design and workflow of an mHealth application supporting triage of horses by equestrians. Results focus on information input elements and also include some requirements for information.

Phage therapy: a revolutionary shift in the management of bacterial infections, pioneering new horizons in clinical practice, and reimagining the arsenal against microbial pathogens

The recent approval of experimental phage therapies by the FDA and other regulatory bodies with expanded access in cases in the United States and other nations caught the attention of the media and the general public, generating enthusiasm for phage therapy. It started to alter the situation so that more medical professionals are willing to use phage therapies with conventional antibiotics. However, more study is required to fully comprehend phage therapy's potential advantages and restrictions, which is still a relatively new field in medicine. It shows promise, nevertheless, as a secure and prosperous substitute for antibiotics when treating bacterial illnesses in animals and humans. Because of their uniqueness, phage disinfection is excellent for ready-to-eat (RTE) foods like milk, vegetables, and meat products. The traditional farm-to-fork method can be used throughout the food chain to employ bacteriophages to prevent food infections at all production stages. Phage therapy improves clinical outcomes in animal models and lowers bacterial burdens in numerous preclinical investigations. The potential of phage resistance and the need to make sure that enough phages are delivered to the infection site are obstacles to employing phages in vivo. However, according to preclinical studies, phages appear to be a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections in vivo. Phage therapy used with compassion (a profound understanding of and empathy for another's suffering) has recently grown with many case reports of supposedly treated patients and clinical trials. This review summarizes the knowledge on the uses of phages in various fields, such as the food industry, preclinical research, and clinical settings. It also includes a list of FDA-approved bacteriophage-based products, commercial phage products, and a global list of companies that use phages for therapeutic purposes.

Teaching clinical hematology and leukocyte differentiation in veterinary medicine using virtual patients

Due to contact restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we created a novel digital course on the Moodle learning platform for winter term in 2020. In the clinical pathology course (CPC) with hematological content, third-year students were able to work independently on 10 extra digital cases of internal medicine involving eight different animal species as a compensation for the reduction in traditional microscopy exercises. Each case presented was initiated using an anamnesis, also the participants to generate a differential blood count based on digitized leukocytes, previously been photographed using a microscope camera. The cases were successive and increased in complexity, for example through the increase in the number of different cell types to be differentiated. The participants had the opportunity to evaluate the course through a final module to rate user-friendliness and acceptance. The total results of the participants in 2021 were analyzed descriptively, focusing on success rates, time spent on the tasks, and number of attempts. A total of 237 (= 96%) of 247 students completed all cases, each assessing 1033 photographed blood cells in sum. The mean processing time was 22.48 min for a differentiation and the students spent an average of 1.48 attempts on it. A voluntary feedback form was completed by 192 (= 78%) students, with more than 95% rating the course positively in 12 evaluation questions, and 29 of 33 comments (= 87.88%) providing positive statements in a comment box. Suggestions for improvement primarily included more explanations on erythrocyte morphologies, followed by adjusting the difficulty level and improving the presentational set-up. Slight improvements in results, time spent on processing the tasks, and the number of attempts indicated an achievement of routine and confidence during the course and were associated with an increase of competency. The positive feedback showed a high acceptance of the digital format and students evaluated the course as improving the quality of teaching when combined with practical exercises.

Meeting Contemporary Challenges: Development of Nanomaterials for Veterinary Medicine

In recent decades, nanotechnology has been rapidly advancing in various fields of human activity, including veterinary medicine. The review presents up-to-date information on recent advancements in nanotechnology in the field and an overview of the types of nanoparticles used in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry, their characteristics, and their areas of application. Currently, a wide range of nanomaterials has been implemented into veterinary practice, including pharmaceuticals, diagnostic devices, feed additives, and vaccines. The application of nanoformulations gave rise to innovative strategies in the treatment of animal diseases. For example, antibiotics delivered on nanoplatforms demonstrated higher efficacy and lower toxicity and dosage requirements when compared to conventional pharmaceuticals, providing a possibility to solve antibiotic resistance issues. Nanoparticle-based drugs showed promising results in the treatment of animal parasitoses and neoplastic diseases. However, the latter area is currently more developed in human medicine. Owing to the size compatibility, nanomaterials have been applied as gene delivery vectors in veterinary gene therapy. Veterinary medicine is at the forefront of the development of innovative nanovaccines inducing both humoral and cellular immune responses. The paper provides a brief overview of current topics in nanomaterial safety, potential risks associated with the use of nanomaterials, and relevant regulatory aspects.

Building the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network in Animals in Greece: A "One Health" Approach

It is widely accepted that, in order to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance (AMR), surveillance systems across human, animal and environmental sectors need to be integrated, in a One Health approach. Currently, in Europe, there are surveillance networks established only for the human and food sector and, until now, there has been no organized effort to monitor AMR in bacterial pathogens derived from diseased animals in Europe. Since 2017, efforts to fill this gap have taken place by the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in a veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) initiative, included in the EU Joint Action on AMR and Healthcare-Associated Infections (EU-JAMRAI). EARS-Vet is designed to complement and integrate with existing European monitoring systems for AMR as well as constitute a European network of national monitoring systems. As Greece has no national AMR surveillance system for pathogens of animal origin currently in place, in the context of the development of EARS-Vet, an initiative took place for the organization of such a system by competent agencies and other stakeholders. In this article, the steps to organize a first AMR national surveillance network in Greece are presented and a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis is performed to present main characteristics of the approach implemented.

Use of cutting-edge RNA-sequencing technology to identify biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in canine and feline cancers and other diseases

With the growing interest in companion animals and the rapidly expanding animal healthcare and pharmaceuticals market worldwide. With the advancements in RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, it has become a valuable tool for understanding biological processes in companion animals and has multiple applications in animal healthcare. Historically, veterinary diagnoses and treatments relied solely on clinical symptoms and drugs used in human diseases. However, RNA-seq has emerged as an effective technology for studying companion animals, providing insights into their genetic information. The sequencing technology has revealed that not only messenger RNAs (mRNAs) but also non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs and microRNAs can serve as biomarkers. Based on the examination of RNA-seq applications in veterinary medicine, particularly in dogs and cats, this review concludes that RNA-seq has significant potential as a diagnostic and research tool. It has enabled the identification of potential biomarkers for cancer and other diseases in companion animals. Further research and development are required to maximize the utilization of RNA-seq for improved disease diagnosis and therapeutic targeting in companion animals.

Exploring the potential of cold plasma therapy in treating bacterial infections in veterinary medicine: opportunities and challenges

Cold plasma therapy is a novel approach that has shown significant promise in treating bacterial infections in veterinary medicine. Cold plasma possesses the potential to eliminate various bacteria, including those that are resistant to antibiotics, which renders it a desirable substitute for traditional antibiotics. Furthermore, it can enhance the immune system and facilitate the process of wound healing. However, there are some challenges associated with the use of cold plasma in veterinary medicine, such as achieving consistent and uniform exposure to the affected area, determining optimal treatment conditions, and evaluating the long-term impact on animal health. This paper explores the potential of cold plasma therapy in veterinary medicine for managing bacterial diseases, including respiratory infections, skin infections, and wound infections such as Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis. It also shows the opportunities and challenges associated with its use. In conclusion, the paper highlights the promising potential of utilizing cold plasma in veterinary medicine. However, to gain a comprehensive understanding of its benefits and limitations, further research is required. Future studies should concentrate on refining treatment protocols and assessing the long-term effects of cold plasma therapy on bacterial infections and the overall health of animals.

Application of environmental sampling to investigate a case of avian chlamydiosis in a pet store and breeding facility leading to mass bird exposures

Chlamydia psittaci is a bacterium that causes chlamydiosis in birds and can cause zoonotic psittacosis in people. In November 2017, we received notification of a suspected case of avian chlamydiosis in a captive cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) that was sold by an online pet bird retail and breeding facility in Washington State. We describe the investigation with emphasis on how environmental sampling was used to guide veterinary and public health interventions. Bird samples were collected either from pooled droppings, pooled plumage or individual nasal and choanal swabs. Environmental samples were obtained by swabbing cleaning mops, tables and cage structures. All samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction and positive samples underwent genotyping. Approximately 1000 birds representing four taxonomic orders were kept within an open-space warehouse. Eight of 14 environmental samples and one of two pooled faecal samples were positive for Chlamydia spp. The contaminating strain of Chlamydia spp. was identified as genotype A. The facility was closed for environmental disinfection, and all psittacines were treated with oral doxycycline for 45 days. Ten of 10 environmental and two of two pooled faecal samples were negative for C. psittaci 11 months after the completion of environmental disinfection and antimicrobial treatment. This investigation highlights the importance of preventing and mitigating pathogen incursion in an online pet retail and breeding facility. Environmental sampling is valuable to guide animal and public health interventions for control of C. psittaci, particularly when large numbers of birds are exposed to the pathogen.

Clinical Assessment of Primary Hemostasis: A Review

Primary hemostatic disorders such as thrombocytopenia and thrombocytopathia are commonly encountered in small animal practice. The key stages of primary hemostasis include platelet adhesion, activation, and aggregation. Understanding the interaction between tissues, platelets, and signaling molecules not only helps clinicians comprehend clot formation but also better recognize thrombocytopathias. Although congenital thrombocytopathia is rare, commercially available platelet function tests allow veterinarians to narrow differentials in many clinical settings. Thrombocytopenia can be easily diagnosed in any clinical setting. In this paper, we review the current understanding of primary hemostasis in veterinary medicine, including the clinical presentation and available diagnostics to identify platelet abnormalities.

Identification of an ADAMTS2 frameshift variant in a cat family with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

We investigated 4 European domestic shorthair kittens with skin lesions consistent with the dermatosparaxis type of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. The kittens were sired by the same tomcat but were born by 3 different mothers. The kittens had easily torn skin resulting in nonhealing skin wounds. Both clinically and histologically, the skin showed thin epidermis in addition to inflammatory changes. Changes in collagen fibers were visible in electron micrographs. The complete genome of an affected kitten was sequenced. A one base pair duplication leading to a frameshift in the candidate gene ADAMTS2 was identified, p.(Ser235fs*3). All 4 affected cats carried the frameshift duplication in a homozygous state. Genotypes at this variant showed perfect cosegregation with the autosomal recessive Ehlers-Danlos syndrome phenotype in the available family. The mutant allele did not occur in 48 unrelated control cats. ADAMTS2 loss-of-function variants cause autosomal recessive forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in humans, mice, dogs, cattle, and sheep. The available evidence from our investigation together with the functional knowledge on ADAMTS2 in other species allows to classify the identified ADAMTS2 variant as pathogenic and most likely causative variant for the observed Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

A Survey on Vaccination and Disease Occurrence in Municipal and Non-Profit Animal Shelters in Portugal

Few studies are available describing animal shelters in Portugal. The aim was to characterize prophylactic measures and disease occurrence in shelters with a questionnaire. The response rates of 67 shelters (42 municipal shelters, 25 associations) were compared by the Fisher's exact test. More veterinarians answered for municipal shelters (98%) than for associations (40%; p < 0.001). Over 80% of the respondents indicated using individual medical records and routine prophylaxis. Excessive length of stay for dogs was reported by 54% of associations and 33% of municipal shelters. Management tools should be promoted to improve the situation. Puppy vaccinations were similar and a final vaccination at 16 weeks was indicated by >33% of shelters. Annual revaccination of dogs was reported more frequently by associations (88%) than municipal shelters (55%; p = 0.02). The three most reported diseases were parvovirus and mange in dogs, upper respiratory disease and panleukopenia in cats, and dermatophytosis in both species. Similar response rates for diagnostic options were obtained by both shelter types, except for distemper. Testing for feline retroviruses was indicated by most shelters (>69%), but only a few (<24%) confirmed positive test results. Clinical diagnoses should be complemented by testing. Additional information on disease occurrence should be obtained by objective monitoring.

An anthropologist's voice in a veterinarian's noise: gearing up for new cultural realities

Over the past three decades, the veterinary profession has faced a cultural shift towards postspeciesism that requires a reassessment of the foundations of the existing distinctions between human and non-human animals proclaimed by the speciesism paradigm, which represents institutionalized discrimination against species and recognizes only the subjectivity of humans. Based on ethnographic observations in anthropological fieldwork and using speciesism/postspeciesism distinction, we aimed to explain the main causes of small animal practitioners' work-related stress and apply humanistic knowledge to recommend ways to alleviate the negative effects of the work environment. The explanatory model of disease, illness, and sickness, the example of the concept of family, and the circumstances of the feminization of the veterinary profession are discussed to illustrate the divergence between speciesist naturalistic veterinary knowledge and the postspeciesist cultural framework and its consequences. By failing to accommodate the changing values towards animals and by failing to challenge the anthropocentric hierarchy of values, the speciesist rationale of the veterinary profession contributes to many of the problems faced by practicing veterinarians. The incorporation of a modern moral-philosophical mindset towards animals may not even be possible because veterinary science is subject to a paradigm that is irreversibly tied to institutional discrimination against species and defies reflection on veterinary science itself. However, the veterinary profession has a privileged position in establishing an alternative ontological thinking and an alternative conception of "animal life." Anthropological knowledge was applied to anticipate further intervention of social and cultural sciences in the problems of small animal practitioners. Rather than further diversifying and increasing expectations towards veterinarians by expecting them to acquire additional skills, we propose another practitioner who can support, mediate, and enhance veterinary performance - the cultural anthropologist. With their deep knowledge of cultural differences and social dynamics, they can collaborate with veterinarians to act as a liaison between cultures, paradigms, and species.

The Need for Green and Responsible Medical Informatics and Digital Health: Looking Forward with One Digital Health

One Health is an important initiative to view the world in a more integrative sense of our health and environment. Digital Health provides essential support to all of us as healthcare professionals and customers. One Digital Health (ODH) combines both One Health and Digital Health to provide a technologically integrative view. ODH gives an essential place to the environment and ecosystems. Thus, health technologies and digital health must be "green" and eco-friendly as much as possible. We suggest in this position paper examples of developing and implementing ODH-related concepts, systems, and products with a respectful consideration of the environment. For humans and animals, developing cutting-edge technologies to improve wellness and healthcare is critical. Nevertheless, we can learn from One Health that digitalization and so One Digital Health must be built to implement green, eco-friendly, and responsible thinking.

Accreditation in continuing veterinary education: development of an accreditation system and selection of accreditation criteria

With the increased supply and demand of veterinary continuing education (CE) and the growing number of CE providers, a clear need has arisen for a multinational accreditation system for veterinary CE. The objective of this document is to describe the current state of veterinary CE accreditation and the development of an accreditation system for veterinary CE, and discuss accreditation criteria and their pedagogical and practical significance. The hypothesis is that a profile of essential, pedagogically grounded, accreditation criteria can be established and utilized effectively in quality assessment. Accreditation criteria for veterinary CE can be created based on four selection principles: educational minimum requirements, coherence, efficacy, and assessability. The selected educational quality criteria are related to needs assessment, correlation of target audience and level of instruction, definition of scope, workload, and number of credits, organizer and instructor qualifications, constructive alignment, assessment of learning, learner engagement, and scientific quality of CE content. The created accreditation criteria and protocols should be regularly re-evaluated and modified in close collaboration with the relevant stakeholders. The desired outcome of CE, including behavior change and improvement of practice and ultimately human and animal health, remains challenging to predict based on course descriptions by the providers, and further research is needed.

Isolation of Elizabethkingia spp. from Diagnostic Specimens from Dogs and Cats, United States, 2019-2021

We retrospectively reviewed Elizabethkingia spp. culture and susceptibility results from 86 veterinary diagnostic laboratory results from US dogs and cats. We noted 26 E. menigoseptica, 1 E. miricola, and 59 unspeciated Elizabethkingia isolates from 9 US states (2-22 isolates per state). Elizabethkingia infections in animals might increase risks to humans.

Providing comparison normal examples alongside pathologic thoracic radiographic cases can improve veterinary students' ability to identify abnormal findings or diagnose disease

Learning by comparison is a frequently employed education strategy used across many disciplines and levels. Interpreting radiographs requires both skills of perception and pattern recognition, which makes comparison techniques particularly useful in this field. In this randomized, prospective, parallel-group study, students enrolled in second and third-year radiology veterinary courses were given a case-based thoracic radiographic interpretation assignment. A cohort of the participants was given cases with side-by-side comparison normal images while the other cohort only had access to the cases. Twelve cases in total were presented to the students, with 10 cases depicting examples of common thoracic pathologies, while 2 cases were examples of normal. Radiographs of both feline and canine species were represented. Correctness of response to multiple choice questions was tracked, as was year and group (group 1: non compare, Control; group 2: compare, Intervention). Students assigned to group 1 had a lower percentage of correct answers than students assigned to group 2 (45% Control vs. 52% Intervention; P = 0.01). This indicates that side-by-side comparison to a normal example is helpful in identifying disease. No statistical significance was noted for the correctness of responses according to the year of training (P = 0.90). The overall poor performance on the assignment, regardless of group or year, shows that students in the early years of undergraduate veterinary radiology training struggle with the interpretation of common pathologies, likely a result of a lack of exposure to a multitude of cases and normal variants.

Alternatives to antibiotics in veterinary medicine: considerations for the management of Johne's disease

Antibiotic resistance has become a major health concern globally, with current predictions expecting deaths related to resistant infections to surpass those of cancer by 2050. Major efforts are being undertaken to develop derivative and novel alternatives to current antibiotic therapies in human medicine. What appears to be lacking however, are similar efforts into researching the application of those alternatives, such as (bacterio)phage therapy, in veterinary contexts. Agriculture is still undoubtedly the most prominent consumer of antibiotics, with up to 70% of annual antibiotic usage attributed to this sector, despite policies to reduce their use in food animals. This not only increases the risk of resistant infections spreading from farm to community but also the risk that animals may acquire species-specific infections that subvert treatment. While these diseases may not directly affect human welfare, they greatly affect the profit margin of industries reliant on livestock due to the cost of treatments and (more frequently) the losses associated with animal death. This means actively combatting animal infection not only benefits animal welfare but also global economies. In particular, targeting recurring or chronic conditions associated with certain livestock has the potential to greatly reduce financial losses. This can be achieved by developing novel diagnostics to quickly identify ill animals alongside the design of novel therapies. To explore this concept further, this review employs Johne's disease, a chronic gastroenteritis condition that affects ruminants, as a case study to exemplify the benefits of rapid diagnostics and effective treatment of chronic disease, with particular regard to the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of phage.

Training in Honey Bee Veterinary Medicine in Italy: An Observational Study and Practical Proposals to Face Professional Challenges

Honey bees, like other livestock, may be affected by infectious, parasitic, and abiotic diseases that need proper sanitary monitoring and control. Currently, there are limited opportunities for undergraduate students to receive education in Honey Bee Veterinary Medicine (HBVM) as part of their regular degree program, despite the professional requirements for veterinarians to carry out the increasing tasks related to honey bee health and production. Additionally, postgraduate training and specialization in HBVM is also underdeveloped. This study was an observational survey that evaluated the educational opportunities available in HBVM for current and future veterinarians in Italy. The survey analyzed both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including Undergraduate Degree Programs in Veterinary Medicine (UDPVM), "Scuole di Specializzazione", Masters, and other postgraduate courses. The results indicate that the current training available for veterinarians in the field of apiculture, both before and after graduation, is also insufficient in Italy, as already reported in other EU- and extra-EU countries. Finally, a roadmap for veterinary training in HBVM is developed here describing objectives and teachings aimed at fulfilling the needs of the profession in the field of beekeeping, considering the existing rules and regulations governing public health and possible evolution of this legal framework in the future.

One Digital Health Intervention for Monitoring Human and Animal Welfare in Smart Cities: Viewpoint and Use Case

Smart cities and digital public health are closely related. Managing digital transformation in urbanization and living spaces is challenging. It is critical to prioritize the emotional and physical health and well-being of humans and their animals in the dynamic and ever-changing environment they share. Human-animal bonds are continuous as they live together or share urban spaces and have a mutual impact on each other's health as well as the surrounding environment. In addition, sensors embedded in the Internet of Things are everywhere in smart cities. They monitor events and provide appropriate responses. In this regard, accident and emergency informatics (A&EI) offers tools to identify and manage overtime hazards and disruptive events. Such manifold focuses fit with One Digital Health (ODH), which aims to transform health ecosystems with digital technology by proposing a comprehensive framework to manage data and support health-oriented policies. We showed and discussed how, by developing the concept of ODH intervention, the ODH framework can support the comprehensive monitoring and analysis of daily life events of humans and animals in technologically integrated environments such as smart homes and smart cities. We developed an ODH intervention use case in which A&EI mechanisms run in the background. The ODH framework structures the related data collection and analysis to enhance the understanding of human, animal, and environment interactions and associated outcomes. The use case looks at the daily journey of Tracy, a healthy woman aged 27 years, and her dog Mego. Using medical Internet of Things, their activities are continuously monitored and analyzed to prevent or manage any kind of health-related abnormality. We reported and commented on an ODH intervention as an example of a real-life ODH implementation. We gave the reader examples of a "how-to" analysis of Tracy and Mego's daily life activities as part of a timely implementation of the ODH framework. For each activity, relationships to the ODH dimensions were scored, and relevant technical fields were evaluated in light of the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable principles. This "how-to" can be used as a template for further analyses. An ODH intervention is based on Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data and real-time processing for global health monitoring, emergency management, and research. The data should be collected and analyzed continuously in a spatial-temporal domain to detect changes in behavior, trends, and emergencies. The information periodically gathered should serve human, animal, and environmental health interventions by providing professionals and caregivers with inputs and "how-to's" to improve health, welfare, and risk prevention at the individual and population levels. Thus, ODH complementarily combined with A&EI is meant to enhance policies and systems and modernize emergency management.

Requirements to mHealth Applications for Animal Owners: A Narrative Review

A narrative literature review was conducted to determine software requirements to mHealth applications for animal owners. Results focus on securing a complete user input, providing adequately formulated information to the users and ensuring the understanding of the applications limitations.

Does Nitrofurantoin Improve the Portfolio of Vets against Resistant Bacteria in Companion Animals?

In clinical practice in dogs and cats, antimicrobials are frequently used, sometimes overused or misused, increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In order to limit the phenomenon, laws have been enacted and guidelines for prudent and rational use of antibiotics have been developed. Interestingly, old molecules such as nitrofurantoin could be used to achieve therapeutic success and overcome AMR. To better understand the suitability of this molecule in veterinary medicine, the authors performed a revision of the literature, searching on PubMed and entering the following keywords: nitrofurantoin, veterinary medicine, dog, and cat connected by the Boolean operator "and", without restrictions on the date of publication. Thirty papers were finally selected. It is possible to appreciate that papers dealing with nitrofurantoin have been written from the early 1960s to the middle of the 1970s, and then a long period passed without publications. Only at the beginning of the new century, nitrofurantoin was included or was sometimes the focus of papers dealing with its efficacy in veterinary medicine, mainly in the treatment of urinary tract infections. One recent paper dealt with pharmacokinetic features, and none was dedicated to pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic integration or modeling. Nitrofurantoin appears to be still effective against several pathogens that rarely develop resistance to this molecule.

Sheep-derived cell immortalization through the expression of cell cycle regulators and biological characterization using transcriptomes

Sheep are important domestic animals for the production of wool and meat. Although numerous cultured cell lines from humans and mice have been established, the number of cell lines derived from sheep is limited. To overcome this issue, the efficient establishment of a sheep-derived cell line and its biological characterization is reported. Mutant cyclin-dependent kinase 4, cyclin D1, and telomerase reverse transcriptase were introduced into sheep muscle-derived cells in an attempt to immortalize primary cells using the K4DT method. Furthermore, the SV40 large T oncogene was introduced into the cells. The successful immortalization of sheep muscle-derived fibroblasts was shown using the K4DT method or SV40 large T antigen. Furthermore, the expression profile of established cells showed close biological characteristics of ear-derived fibroblasts. This study provides a useful cellular resource for veterinary medicine and cell biology.

Potential Applications of Thermophilic Bacteriophages in One Health

Bacteriophages have a wide range of applications such as combating antibiotic resistance, preventing food contamination for food safety, and as biomarkers to indirectly assess the quality of water. Additionally, bacteriophage components (endolysins and coat proteins) have a lot of applications in food processing, vaccine design, and the delivery of cargo to the body. Therefore, bacteriophages/components have a multitude of applications in human, plant/veterinary, and environmental health (One Health). Despite their versatility, bacteriophage/component use is mostly limited to temperatures within 4-40 °C. This limits their applications (e.g., in food processing conditions, pasteurization, and vaccine design). Advances in thermophilic bacteriophage research have uncovered novel thermophilic endolysins (e.g., ΦGVE2 amidase and MMPphg) that can be used in food processing and in veterinary medicine. The endolysins are thermostable at temperatures > 65 °C and have broad antimicrobial activities. In addition to thermophilic endolysins, enzymes (DNA polymerase and ligases) derived from thermophages have different applications in molecular biology/biotechnology: to generate DNA libraries and develop diagnostics for human and animal pathogens. Furthermore, coat proteins from thermophages are being explored to develop virus-like particle platforms with versatile applications in human and animal health. Overall, bacteriophages, especially those that are thermophilic, have a plethora of applications in One Health.

Flipped Classroom to Facilitate Deeper Learning in Veterinary Undergraduate Students: An Educational Change Pilot Study Limited to the Imaging Module Bones

In a flipped classroom, learners study at home and do the 'homework' in class. This approach respects the limitations of memory and allows more interaction between learners. The overall vision is self-paced activities for learners with decreased boredom and greater task value, which should facilitate deeper learning. To implement a flipped classroom, a bumpy incremental change process characterized by periods of relative stillness punctuated by the acceleration of pace was planned. All veterinary undergraduate students used an existing eLearning platform to access relevant text and selected image examples before class. Only for the randomly selected students in the flipped classroom (FC) was this content amended with purposeful audio content and concrete tasks. Further, FC learners discussed their opinions in an online class forum. To measure the educational change, a pre- and post-class formative test and a standardized questionnaire for students in the FC versus in the traditional classroom (TC) were performed. To assess engagement, students were invited to measure all learning activities, categorized into attendance, or self-study. The educational change project resulted in more commitment and less resistance from teachers. The FC consisted of 20 students, while the TC had 40. The mean pre-class scores difference between FC students and TC students was +1.7/20 points, and the mean post-class scores difference was +3/20 points. The chance of answering item 10 of the formative test (describe site of the fracture) correctly was about seven times higher for FC compared to TC learners (OR = 6.96; p = 0.002). The questionnaire revealed more satisfaction and greater task value in the FC compared to TC (p = 0.048). FC students invested 21 h into the course on average, while TC students invested 16 h. The results of this pilot agree with previous reports: A transparent process was helpful to initiate mainly positive interactions between teachers and students. Higher scores, higher chance to give the correct answer, greater task value, and more positive emotions are observed in the FC compared to the TC. Higher measures of learning time are not expected to affect exam results but indicate more engagement.

'I Believe What I'm Saying More Than the Test': The Complicated Place of Rapid, Point-of-Care Tests in Veterinary Diagnostic Practice

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health and development threat, with calls for the optimisation of antimicrobial use (AMU) in the treatment of both humans and animals prevalent across national and international policy. Rapid, low-cost and readily available diagnostics that specifically identify pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles have been identified as essential parts of this optimisation process, yet questions over the assumed utility of novel rapid technology as a cornerstone of tackling agricultural AMU still exist. To understand whether this technology may support the optimisation of AMU in the treatment of animal disease, this study qualitatively examines the discourse between veterinarians, laboratory representatives, veterinary researchers and (cattle) farmers within three participatory events concerning diagnostic testing on UK farms, to offer a critical examination of the interaction between veterinary diagnostic practice and agricultural AMU. Veterinarian-led discussion suggested that veterinary rationales for engaging with diagnostic testing are nuanced and complex, where veterinarians (i) were driven by both medical and non-medical motivators; (ii) had a complex professional identity influencing diagnostic-test engagement; and (iii) balanced a multitude of situated contextual factors that informed "gut feelings" on test choice and interpretation. In consequence, it is suggested that data-driven diagnostic technologies may be more palatable for veterinarians to promote to their farm clients in the pursuit of better and more sustainable AMU, whilst also being in synergy with the emerging preventative role of the farm veterinarian.

Can CT texture analysis parameters be used as imaging biomarkers for prediction of malignancy in canine splenic tumors?

Splenic hemangiosarcoma has morphological similarities to benign nodular hyperplasia. Computed tomography (CT) texture analysis can analyze the texture of images that the naive human eye cannot detect. Recently, there have been attempts to incorporate CT texture analysis with artificial intelligence in human medicine. This retrospective, analytical design study aimed to assess the feasibility of CT texture analysis in splenic masses and investigate predictive biomarkers of splenic hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Parameters for dogs with hemangiosarcoma and nodular hyperplasia were compared, and an independent parameter that could differentiate between them was selected. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess the ability to discriminate the two splenic masses and compare the relative importance of the parameters. A total of 23 dogs were sampled, including 16 splenic nodular hyperplasia and seven hemangiosarcoma. In each dog, total 38 radiomic parameters were extracted from first-, second-, and higher-order matrices. Thirteen parameters had significant differences between hemangiosarcoma and nodular hyperplasia. Skewness in the first-order matrix and GLRLM_LGRE and GLZLM_ZLNU in the second, higher-order matrix were determined as independent parameters. A discriminant equation consisting of skewness, GLZLM_LGZE, and GLZLM_ZLNU was derived, and the cross-validation verification result showed an accuracy of 95.7%. Skewness was the most influential parameter for the discrimination of the two masses. The study results supported using CT texture analysis to help differentiate hemangiosarcoma from nodular hyperplasia in dogs. This new diagnostic approach can be used for developing future machine learning-based texture analysis tools.

Clinical utility of a new protocol of cardiac computed tomography in dogs

OBJECTIVES

The characteristics of non-electrocardiography- and electrocardiography-gated multidetector computed tomography have not been extensively studied in veterinary clinics but it can be useful for cardiac imaging. This study aimed to ascertain the differences between non-electrocardiography and electrocardiography gating methods and to establish their clinical utility based on patient history.

METHODS

Six client-owned dogs (two with patent ductus arteriosus, two with heart base tumour, one with pericardial mesothelioma, and one with normal health) were included in this study. All the dogs were examined using a non-electrocardiography-gated scan, followed by a retrospective electrocardiography-gated scan. Images were reviewed to determine the optimal scan timing and R-R interval in non-electrocardiography- and electrocardiography-gated images, respectively, for detailed coronary artery imaging, diagnostic quality of the best coronary artery visualisation in non-electrocardiography- and electrocardiography-gated images through visual assessment of the main coronary artery branches, and branching patterns of the left coronary artery. Further, we compared the size and margin demarcation of the heart or pericardial lesions in non-electrocardiography- and electrocardiography-gated images obtained from patients with heart or pericardial tumours.

RESULTS

The optimal scan timing and R-R interval were the second-scan timing and end-diastole (70%-90%), respectively. Second-scan non-electrocardiography-gated images allowed coronary artery evaluation, indicating high-grade quality in visual assessment, except for the septal branch. Electrocardiography-gated images, but not non-ECG-gated images, clearly revealed pericardial nodules in two dogs.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings suggest the respective clinical utilities of non-electrocardiography- or electrocardiography-gated imaging using high-slice cardiac computed tomography based on patient history.

Identification of Genetic Risk Factors for Monogenic and Complex Canine Diseases

Advances in DNA sequencing and other technologies have greatly facilitated the identification of genetic risk factors for inherited diseases in dogs. We review recent technological developments based on selected examples from canine disease genetics. The identification of disease-causing variants in dogs with monogenic diseases may become a widely employed diagnostic approach in clinical veterinary medicine in the not-too-distant future. Diseases with complex modes of inheritance continue to pose challenges to researchers but have also become much more tangible than in the past. In addition to strategies for identifying genetic risk factors, we provide some thoughts on the interpretation of sequence variants that are largely inspired by developments in human clinical genetics.