Foot-and-mouth Disease Research Articles

Clinical and Antigen Serotype O Confirmation of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Virus Outbreak in Punjab Spillover from Domestic Livestock

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most highly contagious viral diseases affecting cloven-hoofed domestic and wild animals. This study described clinical investigations of FMD outbreaks (n=13) with serotype O confirmation in seven districts of Punjab from October 2023 to April 2024. Samples from sick animals and post-mortem examinations were collected from FMD suspected animals for laboratory diagnosis. The investigation included clinical signs and lesions, blood profiles, presence of other infectious pathogens, differential diagnosis, and the cause of death in the area. A total of 13 outbreaks in farm ruminants were confirmed, detecting FMDV serotype O. Outbreaks were reported in Ludhiana, Barnala, Gurdaspur, Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa, and Amritsar districts. Animals were diagnosed to be positive for FMDV antigen using Sandwich ELISA. A total of 692 animals, including both cattle and buffalo, were affected in these districts, with a mortality rate of 24.42% (169/692) in young animals and heifers. The most severely affected districts were Bathinda, Barnala, and Faridkot, that experienced high mortality rates, leading to significant economic losses in these areas. Histopathologically samples revealed muscle degeneration and diffuse lymphocytic infiltration, and lymphocytic myocarditis in the heart, which is characteristic of the cardiac form of FMD. Serotype O FMDV, primarily circulating in the study area, was identified as the cause of the outbreaks in farm ruminants under investigation. The local animal health authorities should take steps to minimize the spread of the disease by being prepared for risk factors, particularly animal movement and human activities linked to an outbreak and the need for improved vaccination coverage and enhanced biosecurity measures to control the spread of FMD in the region.

Effect of GnRH treatment as a potential solution for ovarian disorders in dairy cows infected with foot and mouth disease in Indonesian smallholder farms.

The outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Indonesia induces reproductive disorders in dairy cows that lead to economic losses to smallholder dairy farms. The study was to assess the influence of FMD on reproductive traits and evaluate the effect of gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) administrations on the reproductive performance in FMD-infected dairy cows. The study was conducted in Jemowo village, Taman Sari sub-district, Boyolali district, Central Java, Indonesia. A total of 155 cows were used to identify the reproductive disorders on FMD-infected dairy cows aged 2-10 years old. Cows were raised in similar conditions and fed diets. A single dose of 2 ml GnRH was injected intramuscularly into 96 ovarian disorder cows. Reproductive performance was measured by service per conception (S/C), conception rate (CR), and pregnancy rate (PR). A descriptive study was conducted to demonstrate the results. The study showed that 61.9% of FMD-infected cows had reproductive disorders, whereby 53.5% ovarian hypofunction, 4.52% silent heat, 1.94% repeat breeder, 1.29% ovarian atrophy, and 0.65% endometritis. FMD-infected cows injected with GnRH had a 98% reproductive recovery rate. Moreover, the S/C, CR, and PR of cows injected with GnRH were 2.02%, 51%, and 85%. GnRH administrations enhanced the reproductive traits of FMD-infected dairy cows indicated by the improvement of CR and PR.

Fasciola hepatica infection modifies IgG1 specific immune response to foot-and-mouth disease virus induced by vaccination

Fasciola hepatica, a worldwide distributed helminth, has a robust immunoregulatory effect in the host, increasing the susceptibility to secondary infections. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious acute vesicular viral disease effectively controlled by vaccination in endemic regions. Despite the evidence of immunoregulatory effects, the impact of fasciolosis on the immune response induced by FMD vaccination in cattle has never been assessed. Our objective was to evaluate whether the infection by F. hepatica in cattle influences the long-term immunity elicited by the currently used commercial FMD-inactivated vaccines. Aberdeen Angus steers negative for F. hepatica were vaccinated twice against FMD virus (FMDV) during the first 6 months of age using a commercial oil vaccine formulated with A24/Cruzeiro and O1/Campos strains. When maternal antibodies against F. hepatica were weaned (18––20 months of age) animals were divided into groups of 12 and infected or mock-infected with 500 metacercariae/animal. Individual serum samples were collected at 0-, 28-, 59-, 87- and 157-days post-infection (dpi). Indirect ELISAs were used to detect A24/Cruzeiro specific bovine IgG and IgG subtypes. The total IgG antibody levels and avidity against FMDV did not show significant differences between all the groups. The commercial vaccine induced higher IgG2 than IgG1 titers in vaccinated animals. Anti-FMDV IgG1 levels significantly decreased in the infected group at 28 dpi. In addition, the avidity of IgG1 FMDV-specific antibodies at day 28 in the infected group was reduced compared to the control. These results show that F. hepatica infection modified anamnestic responses against FMDV, reducing serum IgG1 titers and avidity. To our knowledge, this is the first report of immune-regulation of F. hepatica altering the immune response of FMD vaccines, one of the most globally used animal vaccines.

Comparison of clinical, hematological and serum biochemical parameters between foot-and-mouth disease infected and non-infected Nigerian breeds of cattle.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) still remains one of the major hindrances to livestock productivity in Africa as a whole and Nigeria in particular, with estimated well over 7billions losses to FMDV infection per annum in Nigeria. We therefore sought to establish and compare the clinical, hematological and biochemical indices in FMD infected and non-infected cattle. A total of 60 cattle including 40 apparently healthy and 20 FMD-infected cattle were sampled in Central Abattoir, Akinyele and Akufo Farm settlement, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria respectively. Confirmatory diagnosis was done by accessing the presented pathognomonic clinical signs and the use of rapid diagnostic Antibody detection kit. Clinical parameters were recorded, and blood was drawn through the jugular vein for hematological and biochemical profiles. Standard hematological and serum biochemical techniques were used to analyzed the samples for hematological and biochemical parameters respectively. Results revealed higher clinical parameters in infected compared to the non-infected. All erythrocytic parameters were significantly lower in FMD infected cattle compared to non-infected cattle with P-values of 0.016, 0.015, 0.010, 0.001, 0.001 and 0.045 for PCV, Hb conc, RBC count, MCV, MCH and MCHC values respectively. Significant differences (P<0.05) of 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.000, 0.001 and 0.001 for Lymphocyte, Neutrophil, Absolute lymphocyte, Absolute monocyte, Absolute neutrophil and platelets respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) of 0.009,0.001, 0.026, 0.001, 0.014, 0.001,0.001, 0.001, 0.001 and 0.001 for Total serum protein, Albumin, Globulin, Glucose, Creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP, Na+ and K+ respectively in infected cattle compared to non-infected cattle. We therefore conclude that, FMD-infected cattle showed lower clinical, hematological and serum biochemical parameters compared to uninfected cattle breeds in Nigeria.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AND ITS EFFECT ON MILK YIELD: AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ON CATTLE AND BUFFALO HOLDERS IN HYDERABAD, SINDH

An investigation of the impact of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on milk production among cattle and buffalo farmers was conducted in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. 120 farmers who owned buffaloes participated in the study, equally distributed across the upper and lower parts of Hyderabad. Clinical symptoms led to the initial suspicion of FMD, which was later validated by field tests or laboratory findings. Prior to FMD, a buffalo produced an average of 12 liters of milk every day. However, throughout the course of the next 60 days, milk output drastically dropped after the commencement of the clinical illness. In one region, the projected milk loss per buffalo during this time was about 250 liters, whereas in the other, it was about 210 liters. According to the study, the total milk loss for the 120 lactating cattle and buffaloes was about 5,914,800 Pakistani rupees. Based on the supposition that cow milk was worth around 250 PKR per liter and buffalo milk about 200 PKR, this computation was made. This demonstrates the FMD's significant economic impact on local milk production. The expected benefit-to-cost ratio for immunizing all animals in the two locations was calculated to be 6.1 under the assumption that giving a high-quality vaccine that corresponds to the circulating FMD strains might avoid clinical illness.

Prevalence and Seasonal Patterns of Foot Affection in Cattle in Khulna District of Bangladesh.

Aim and Background: Foot diseases pose a significant challenge to cattle health and productivity globally, including in Bangladesh where they impose substantial economic burdens. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the prevalence and seasonal patterns of foot diseases among cattle in Khulna district. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on data collected from April 2022 to March 2023 from ten Upazila Veterinary Hospitals in the Khulna district. A total of 11,354 cases of foot diseases in cattle were examined to determine their prevalence and distribution. Statistical analyses were performed to explore associations between disease occurrence, cattle breeds, ages, genders, and seasonal variations. The diseases assessed included Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), foot rot, laminitis, hoof overgrowth, heel erosion, interdigital dermatitis, sole ulcer, abscess of the sole and white line, and upward patella fixation. Results: The overall prevalence of foot diseases in cattle was 5.9% across the Khulna district. FMD was the most prevalent, accounting for 35.52% of cases, followed by foot rot (25.97%) and laminitis (13.43%). Crossbred cattle showed a higher susceptibility (60.89%) compared to indigenous breeds (39.10%). Seasonal analysis indicated increased disease occurrence during the rainy and summer seasons, particularly for foot rot, laminitis, sole ulcer, interdigital dermatitis, and abscesses in the sole and white lines. Conclusions: The study highlights the complex interplay of environmental factors contributing to foot diseases in cattle in the Khulna district. Continued surveillance and further research are recommended to enhance the understanding and management of foot diseases, ultimately improving cattle health and productivity in the region.

Direct RNA Sequencing of Foot-and-mouth Disease Virus Genome Using a Flongle on MinION.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe and extremely contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed domestic and wild animals, which leads to serious economic losses to the livestock industry globally. FMD is caused by the FMD virus (FMDV), a positive-strand RNA virus that belongs to the genus Aphthovirus, within the family Picornaviridae. Early detection and characterization of FMDV strains are key factors to control new outbreaks and prevent the spread of the disease. Here, we describe a direct RNA sequencing method using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) Flongle flow cells on MinION Mk1C (or GridION) to characterize FMDV. This is a rapid, low cost, and easily deployed point of care (POC) method for a near real-time characterization of FMDV in endemic areas or outbreak investigation sites. Key features • Saves ~35 min of the original protocol time by omitting the reverse transcription step and lowers the costs of reagents and consumables. • Replaces the GridION flow cell from the original protocol with the Flongle, which saves ~90% on the flow cell cost. • Combines the NGS benchwork with a modified version of our African swine fever virus (ASFV) fast analysis pipeline to achieve FMDV characterization within minutes. Graphical overview Schematic of direct RNA sequencing of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) process, which takes ~50 min from extracted RNA to final loading, modified from the ONT SQK-RNA002 protocol (Version: DRS_9080_v2_revO_14Aug2019).

Evaluation of vaccine efficacy with 2B/T epitope conjugated porcine IgG-Fc recombinants against foot-and-mouth disease virus.

The inactivated vaccine is effective in controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but it has drawbacks such as the need for a biosafety level 3 laboratory facility to handle live foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), high production costs, and biological safety risks. In response to these challenges, we developed a new recombinant protein vaccine (2BT-pIgG-Fc) containing porcine IgG-Fc to enhance protein stability in the body. This vaccine incorporates two-repeat B-cell and one-single T-cell epitope derived from O/Jincheon/SKR/2014. Our study confirmed that 2BT-pIgG-Fc and a commercial FMDV vaccine induced FMDV-specific antibodies in guinea pigs at 28 days post-vaccination. The percentage inhibition (PI) value of 2BT-pIgG-Fc was 90.43%, and the commercial FMDV vaccine was 81.75%. The PI value of 2BT-pIgG-Fc was 8.68% higher than that of commercial FMDV vaccine. In pigs, the primary target animals for FMDV, all five individuals produced FMDV-specific antibodies 42 days after vaccination with 2BT-pIgG-Fc. Furthermore, serum from 2BT-pIgG-Fc-vaccinated pigs exhibited neutralizing ability against FMDV infection. Intriguingly, the 2BT-pIgG-Fc recombinant demonstrated FMDV-specific antibody production rates and neutralization efficiency similar to commercial inactivated vaccines. This study illustrates the potential to enhance vaccine efficacy by strategically combining well-known antigenic domains in the development of recombinant protein-based vaccines.

Effect of doubled dose administration of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine against heterologous virus infection in cattle.

Vaccination is a feasible approach for controlling foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). In FMD-free countries, vaccines are stored as a precautionary measure to control potential outbreaks. However, the challenge lies in pre-stocking optimal vaccines against the newly emerging strains. This study examined the potency of pre-stocked vaccines administered at elevated doses during emergencies. We vaccinated the cows with either a single or double trivalent vaccine dose containing two serotype O and one serotype A strains. Subsequently, vaccinated and unvaccinated cows were exposed to virulent strains of serotype O (O/JPN/2010; topotype Southeast Asia/Mya-98 lineage) or A (A/IRN/2016; topotype ASIA/G-VII lineage), which were genetically and antigenically distinct from the vaccine strains. Following challenge infections, all cows that received a single dose vaccination exhibited vesicular lesions with excreted viruses in the oral and nasal discharges. However, a substantial reduction was observed in the total clinical scores and virus titers in the sera and nasal discharges compared to those in the unvaccinated group. Cows receiving a doubled dose vaccination were completely protected from infection with O/JPN/2010 or demonstrated a significant decrease in viral shedding and clinical scores against A/IRN/2016. To note, vesicular lesions harbor significant amounts of viruses; thus, by mitigating their formation, viral transmission can be impeded, thereby slowing viral spread in the field. Furthermore, increasing the vaccine dose induced higher neutralizing antibody titers against heterologous strains. These findings suggest an alternative strategy for the effective management of future epidemics using pre-stocked vaccines.

Surviving the summer: foot-and-mouth disease virus survival in U.S. regional soil types at high ambient temperatures.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most economically significant global livestock diseases. In the U.S., economic optimization models run in 2011 demonstrate the highest mean epidemic impact of a potential FMD outbreak in California would occur in livestock-dense regions, resulting in national agriculture losses of $2.3 to $69.0 billion. In the case that an FMD outbreak occurred in the U.S., mass depopulation, carcass disposal, and disinfection protocols for infected premises have been designed to prevent further viral spread. Because the FMD virus (FMDV) is spread mechanically via the environment, characteristics of viral environmental stability are important. Temperature and adsorption to soil particles are reported to be the most important factors affecting general virus survival; however, how much these factors alter FMDV survival has not been tested. Soil samples were examined from typical U.S. regions containing the highest cattle population densities: Tennessee, Georgia, Nebraska, California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Iowa. Soils were spiked with known quantities of FMDV and FMDV stability was evaluated over seven distinct time points between 0 hours and 12 days at incubation temperatures of 25°C and 37°C to represent a range of typical ambient temperatures during the summer. FMDV stability was quantified via virus titration. Virus decayed faster at higher ambient temperatures for all soils, but decay at 25°C was faster in some soils. Consequently, areas with high ambient temperatures may have lower between-farm transmission rates, slower outbreak spread, and simpler farm decontamination. This study provides a helpful exploration into understanding soil survival of the virus. Additional investigations into FMDV survival across different soil types will aid in developing better disinfection protocols and further refining regional viral transmission rate estimates.

Detection of antibodies against structural proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus in bovines of western Uttar Pradesh, India.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is considered as one of the most important contagious viral diseases affecting cloven-footed animals. For effective control of FMD, immunization along with herd immunity is essential in the field conditions. To assure and track the coverage and effectiveness of the vaccination program, the serological studies are very much required after the vaccination program. The present study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against structural proteins of FMD virus (FMDV) serotypes of O, A and Asia-1 in seven districts of western Uttar Pradesh, India, and assure the efficacy of vaccination under National Animal Disease Control Program. A total of 308 sera samples were collected from apparent healthy vaccinated cattle and buffaloes from seven districts including Amroha, Baghpat, Bareilly, Bulandsahar, Gautam Budh Nagar, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar of western Uttar Pradesh, India. Determination of antibodies against structural proteins of FMDV was carried out using solid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protective level of the FMDV serotypes O, A and Asia-1 included in the inactivated trivalent vaccine was 66.55, 48.05 and 47.08% in bovines, respectively. To provide the higher level of protection against the circulating FMDV, the present study recommended the thorough investigation of the immunogenic interaction between the vaccine strains and the field strains. Further investigations should also be conducted with larger sample size and across diverse geographical regions to gain a more comprehensive understanding of herd immunity.

Beyond the Magic of Moringa oleifera: Its Potential to Control Indonesian Serotype of Footand-Mouth-Disease Virus Replication through Inhibition of 3-Cysteine Protease

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) poses a significant threat to livestock worldwide, necessitating innovative approaches to combat its causative agent, the FMD virus (FMDV). On the other hand, Moringa oleifera is a feed alternative for cattles with numerous bioactive compounds. This paper delves into the captivating realm of Moringa oleifera (MO) bioactives and their potential in thwarting FMDV replication by targeting the essential enzyme, 3C Protease (3CP). To elucidate the inhibitory potential of these bioactives, a rigorous investigation involving molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations was conducted. Specifically, the 3CP was modeled based on the amino acid sequence of FMDV Indonesian Serotype. Results showed that most of the compounds from MO outperformed Ribavirin as the standard therapy for FMD. Among them, Baicalin, Chlorogenic Acid, and Rutin have binding affinity -9.1, -8.1, and -8.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Those compounds also formed more hydrogen bonds than Ribavirin through their binding sites. Molecular dynamics simulation also revealed that interaction of 3CP with those compounds had minor influence on its structural stability. The conformation of those compounds is also more stable than Ribavirin, supported by more hydrogen bonds. In summary, this research highlighted the potential mechanism of MO bioactives in preventing severe FMDV infection through inhibition of viral replication.

Unveiling the spatial distribution and transboundary pathways of FMD serotype O in Western China and its bordering countries.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact on domestic animals and threatens wildlife survival in China and border countries. However, effective surveillance and prevention of this disease is often incomplete and unattainable due to the cost, the great diversity of wildlife hosts, the changing range and dynamics, and the diversity of FMDV. In this study, we used predictive models to reveal the spread and risk of FMD in anticipation of identifying key nodes to control its spread. For the first time, the spatial distribution of FMD serotype O was predicted in western China and border countries using a niche model, which is a combination of eco-geographic, human, topographic, and vegetation variables. The transboundary least-cost pathways (LCPs) model for ungulates in the study area were also calculated. Our study indicates that FMD serotype O survival is seasonal at low altitudes (March and June) and more sensitive to temperature differences at high altitudes. FMD serotype O risk was higher in Central Asian countries and both were highly correlated with the population variables. Ten LCPs were obtained representing Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.

Susceptibility of primary ovine dorsal soft palate and palatine tonsil cells to FMDV infection.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. This disease is one of the most important in animal health due to its significant socio-economic impact, especially in case of an outbreak. One important challenge associated with this disease is the ability of the FMD virus (FMDV) to persist in its hosts through still unresolved underlying mechanisms. The absence of relevant in vitro models is one factor preventing advancement in our understanding of FMDV persistence. While a primary bovine cell model has been established using cells from FMDV primary and persistence site in cattle, it appeared interesting to develop a similar model based on ovine anatomical sites of interest to compare host-pathogen interactions. Thus, epithelial cells derived from the palatine tonsils and the dorsal soft palate were isolated and cultured. Their epithelial nature was confirmed using immunofluorescence. Following monolayer infection with FMDV O/FRA/1/2001 Clone 2.2, the FMDV-sensitivity of these cells was evaluated. Dorsal soft palate (DSP) cells were also expanded in multilayers at the air-liquid interface to mimic a stratified epithelium sensitive to FMDV infection. Our investigation revealed the presence of infectious virus, as well as viral antigens and viral RNA, up to 35 days after infection of the cell multilayers. Further experiment with DSP cells from different individuals needs to be reproduced to confirm the robustness of the new model of persistence in multilayer DSP. The establishment of such primary cells creates new opportunities for FMDV research and analysis in sheep cells.

Extracellular vesicles derived from antigen-presenting cells pulsed with foot and mouth virus vaccine-antigens act as carriers of viral proteins and stimulate B cell response.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious infection caused by FMD-virus (FMDV) that affects livestock worldwide with significant economic impact. The main strategy for the control is vaccination with FMDV chemically inactivated with binary ethylenimine (FMDVi). In FMDV infection and vaccination, B cell response plays a major role by providing neutralizing/protective antibodies in animal models and natural hosts. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and small EVs (sEVs) such as exosomes are important in cellular communication. EVs secreted by antigen-presenting cells (APC) like dendritic cells (DCs) participate in the activation of B and T cells through the presentation of native antigen membrane-associated to B cells or by transferring MHC-peptide complexes to T cells and even complete antigens from DCs. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that APC activated with the FMDVi O1 Campos vaccine-antigens secrete EVs expressing viral proteins/peptides that could stimulate FMDV-specific immune response. The secretion of EVs-FMDVi is a time-dependent process and can only be isolated within the first 24 h post-activation. These vesicles express classical EVs markers (CD9, CD81, and CD63), along with immunoregulatory molecules (MHC-II and CD86). With an average size of 155 nm, they belong to the category of EVs. Studies conducted in vitro have demonstrated that EVs-FMDVi express antigens that can stimulate a specific B cell response against FMDV, including both marginal zone B cells (MZB) and follicular B cells (FoB). These vesicles can also indirectly or directly affect T cells, indicating that they express both B and T epitopes. Additionally, lymphocyte expansion induced by EVs-FMDVi is greater in splenocytes that have previously encountered viral antigens in vivo. The present study sheds light on the role of EVs derived from APC in regulating the adaptive immunity against FMDV. This novel insight contributes to our current understanding of the immune mechanisms triggered by APC during the antiviral immune response. Furthermore, these findings may have practical implications for the development of new vaccine platforms, providing a rational basis for the design of more effective vaccines against FMDV and other viral diseases.

Peripheral Blood Smear Analysis for Cattle with Foot and Mouth Diseases in Lembang, West Bandung

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is an infectious disease that is endemic and has a significant impact on dairy farming in Indonesia. In reducing the impact caused by FMD, proper handling by veterinarians is necessary. The peripheral blood smear can be used as a data reference to give priority to the right treatment for cattle with FMD. This study aimed to describe the appearance of peripheral blood smears in cattle with FMD. The study data were obtained from 15 cattle with FMD at KPSBU Lembang, West Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The morphological profile of the blood was examined using the peripheral blood smear method. Morphological abnormalities found in the peripheral blood smear of red blood cells were anisocytosis (microcytosis and macrocytosis), poikilocytosis (achanthocytosis and echinocytosis), and hypochromasia. Different morphological abnormalities of leukocytes can be caused by anorexia due to FMD secondary to lack of nutritional intake. To determine an effective and efficient treatment, it is recommended that veterinarians refer to the results of this study.

Hematological Profile in Dairy Cattle with Foot and Mouth Diseases in Lembang, West Bandung

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a widespread infectious disease that significantly affects the dairy farming sector in Indonesia. In reducing the impact caused by FMD, proper treatment performed by veterinarians is necessary. Hematological profile can be used as a data reference to prioritize dairy cattle infected with FMD. This study aimed to describe the hematological profile in dairy cattle with FMD infection. This study was collected data from 15 dairy cattle with FMD infection at Koperasi Peternak Sapi Bandung Utara (KPSBU), Lembang, West Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Parameters observed in the hematology analyzer were the numbers of erythrocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, and MPV. The results of the examination of hematological profile showed various numbers. It found lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and high MPV values. It was suggested for veterinarians to refer to this study's results to determine an effective and efficient treatment.

Genomic breeding simulation study to identify QTL associated with cattle disease traits in Hanwoo

This research used the simulation program to identify individuals resistant to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) using the QMSim program. The simulation program was utilized to generate genetic and phenotypic data for individuals with and without FMD immunity. Subsequently, based on the simulated data, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with FMD immunity. Additionally, the QTLs identified by GWAS were compared with Random Forest (RF) and XGBoost. Out of the 41,461 SNPs, which included QTLs generated from the simulation, a total of 20 markers were found to be associated with FMD immunity. When comparing the performance of GWAS, RF, and XGBoost, RF identified the highest number of QTLs (7), followed by GWAS (6) and XGBoost (3). Furthermore, GBLUP, RF, and XGBoost were employed to classify individuals as either having or lacking FMD immunity. The classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were evaluated using a confusion matrix, and the results were compared. The overall accuracy of the classification was as follows: XGBoost 0.53, RF 0.52, GBLUP 0.51. Sensitivity values were RF 0.98, XGBoost 0.97, GBLUP 0.19, and specificity values were GBLUP 0.83, XGboost 0.08, RF 0.05. XGBoost consistently outperformed the other methods in the overall accuracy and sensitivity, while GBLUP exhibited the lowest performance. Therefore, the research suggests that combining various methods in an ensemble approach, rather than relying solely on GBLUP, can lead to better predictions of FMD-resistant individuals. This approach has the potential to help mitigate the damages caused by future FMD outbreaks.

Breed Lineage Prediction of Small Ruminants Using Deep Learning

Sheep are a significant food source for humans, besides cattle and poultry. Despite its significance to Malaysian Muslims, who make up approximately 60% of the local population, the sheep supply is limited by the high mortality rate caused by fatal diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tetanus. Infected sheep can spread food-borne bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, at various preparation phases, contaminating the meat. The objectives of this study are to identify internal and external factors that influence sheep breed lineage continuity, investigate current practices for collecting and managing data knowledge on sheep breed and hereditary diseases, and propose a sheep breed and disease data knowledge model based on the feedforward artificial neural network (FANN) deep learning method. This study utilized qualitative and quantitative data to obtain in-depth answers to the research questions, which involves collecting all the information required for the system development using the FANN deep learning method. This study found that breeding is the leading data group for tracking each sheep's ADG and BCS. Feed type, sanitization, and medication influence sheep’s daily increase and health. Collaboration, worker knowledge, and climate are recognized as external factors that potentially influence sheep's daily increase. The interview analysis also suggested attributes that could contribute to detecting breed lineage, including breed, category, ADG, and BCS. Therefore, it is recommended that future research adopt this method for other farmed animals.

Breed Lineage Prediction of Small Ruminants Using Deep Learning

Sheep are a significant food source for humans, besides cattle and poultry. Despite its significance to Malaysian Muslims, who make up approximately 60% of the local population, the sheep supply is limited by the high mortality rate caused by fatal diseases such as foot and mouth disease (FMD) and tetanus. Infected sheep can spread food-borne bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, at various preparation phases, contaminating the meat. The objectives of this study are to identify internal and external factors that influence sheep breed lineage continuity, investigate current practices for collecting and managing data knowledge on sheep breed and hereditary diseases, and propose a sheep breed and disease data knowledge model based on the feedforward artificial neural network (FANN) deep learning method. This study utilized qualitative and quantitative data to obtain in-depth answers to the research questions, which involves collecting all the information required for the system development using the FANN deep learning method. This study found that breeding is the leading data group for tracking each sheep's ADG and BCS. Feed type, sanitization, and medication influence sheep’s daily increase and health. Collaboration, worker knowledge, and climate are recognized as external factors that potentially influence sheep's daily increase. The interview analysis also suggested attributes that could contribute to detecting breed lineage, including breed, category, ADG, and BCS. Therefore, it is recommended that future research adopt this method for other farmed animals.