Improve Animal Health Research Articles

Beef Quality Assurance national rancher survey: program participation, best management practices, and motivations for joining future sustainability programs.

Till date, with over 137,000 certified members, the most successful rancher educational program has been the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. The BQA program was established in the mid-1990’s to improve animal health and welfare with a primary objective to reduce the incidence of injection site lesions by instructing producers to administer injections in the neck only. The present study investigated the drivers of this success to inform future rancher education programs around agricultural sustainability. An online multistate survey was administered to cattle ranchers in collaboration with state cattlemen’s associations to better understand rancher motivations for adopting new practices and to gain insight on current involvement in BQA. In total, the survey consisted of 45 questions and was divided into 3 sections: (1) rancher demographics, (2) BQA participation and current best management practice (BMP) application, and (3) willingness to join new rancher educational programs. Data from 842 respondents are including in this study. Of the survey participants, 70% were currently BQA certified or had been BQA certified at one time, and 30% had never been certified. Ranchers who were BQA certified at any time were less likely to administer injections in areas other than the neck compared to ranchers who were not certified (P < 0.05), demonstrating the effectiveness of the BQA program. More than 80% of survey respondents who joined the BQA program stated they believed the BQA program improved animal health and welfare on their operation (n = 617). Among those who had not joined the BQA program, 40% believed BQA practices did not align with their ranching operation, while 38% had not heard of the BQA program (n = 256). The survey indicated that male ranchers, those with more years ranching, those with a larger percent of income coming from ranching, and ranches with larger total acres grazed were more likely to be BQA certified at any time (P < 0.05). Finally, ranchers who were BQA certified at any time were more likely to state that joining a rancher sustainability program would be beneficial to their operation. In conclusion, not only did the survey provide valuable insight into BQA program adoption but highlighted how BQA pedagogy and program structure may be a suitable framework for creating future rancher sustainability programs.

The Combination of Plant Extracts and Probiotics Improved Jejunal Barrier and Absorption Capacity of Weaned Piglets

Plant extracts and probiotics play a vital role in maintaining animal intestinal health. However, their joint compatibility program still needs to be further explored. In our study, thirty two piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) were selected to divided into four treatments, which included basal diet, basal diet + 1000 mg/kg probiotics with added glucose oxidase (PGO), basal diet + 500 mg/kg Illicium verum extracts (IVE), and basal diet + 500 mg/kg IVE + 1000 mg/kg PGO. All the piglets were housed individually for the 42-d trial period after 7-d adaptation. Results showed that dietary supplementation of PGO and IVE increased the digestibility of ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), and lysine (p &lt; 0.05). Likewise, the net protein utilization (NPU) was also improved (p &lt; 0.05). What is more, adding PGO and IVE reduced crypt depth, increased villus length, and chrionic gland ratio of piglets (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, IVE or PGO that was applied alone can increase the expression of Occludin, Zona occludens 1 (ZO-1), and Sodium-dependent glucose transporters 1 (SGLT1) in jejunum (p &lt; 0.05). Our results strongly suggest that the combination of IVE and PGO can improve the nutrient digestibility of weaned piglets by increasing the expression of nutrient transport vectors (SGLT1 and CAT1) and tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1) in the jejunum. In conclusion, the combination of plant extracts and probiotics is a vital strategy to improve animal health before the advent of antibiotic substitutes with absolute advantages.

Oral vaccine formulation combining tick Subolesin with heat inactivated mycobacteria provides control of cross-species cattle tick infestations

Tick vaccines are necessary as part of a One Health approach for the control of tick infestations and tick-borne diseases. Subolesin (SUB, also known as 4D8) is a tick protective antigen that has shown efficacy in vaccine formulations for the control of ectoparasite infestations and pathogen infection/transmission. A recent proof-of-concept study reported oral vaccination combining Rhipicephalus microplus SUB with heat inactivated Mycobacterium bovis (IV) as an immunostimulant for the control of cattle tick infestations. Based on the efficacy of Rhipicephalus decoloratus SUB for the control of multiple cattle tick species in Uganda, herein we design a controlled pen trial using an oral formulation combining R. decoloratus SUB with IV for the control of R. decoloratus and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus cattle tick infestations. Vaccine efficacy (E) of SUB + IV on tick life cycle was compared with IV and SUB alone and with PBS as control. The IgG antibody titers against SUB and M. bovis P22 and the serum levels of selected protein immune biomarkers (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, C3) were determined and analyzed as possible correlates of protection. Oral immunization with IV and SUB alone and in SUB + IV combination were effective for the control of tick infestations (E = 71–96% for R. decoloratus and 87–99% for R. appendiculatus) with highest E (higher than 95%) for SUB + IV. The results demonstrated that oral immunization with the SUB + IV formulation resulted in effective control of cattle tick infestations through the activation of multiple immune mechanisms. These results support the application of oral vaccine formulations with SUB + IV for the control of cattle infestations with Rhipicephalus species towards improving animal health.

Natural Products of Plants and Animal Origin Improve Albumen Quality of Chicken Eggs.

Albumen quality is recognized as one of the major yardsticks in measuring egg quality. The elasticity of thick albumen, a strong bond in the ovomucin-lysozyme complex, and excellent biological properties are indicators of high-quality albumen. The albumen quality prior to egg storage contribute to enhance egg’s shelf life and economic value. Evidence suggests that albumen quality can deteriorate due to changes in albumen structure, such as the degradation of β-ovomucin subunit and O-glyosidic bonds, the collapse of the ovomucin-lysozyme complex, and a decrease in albumen protein-protein interaction. Using organic minerals, natural plants and animal products with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, high biological value, no residue effect and toxicity risk could improve albumen quality. These natural products (e.g., tea polyphenols, marigold extract, magnolol, essential oils, Upro (small peptide), yeast cell wall, Bacillus species, a purified amino acid from animal blood, and pumpkin seed meal) are bio-fortified into eggs, thus enhancing the biological and technological function of the albumen. Multiple strategies to meeting laying hens’ metabolic requirements and improvement in albumen quality are described in this review, including the use of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, essential oils, prebiotics, probiotics, organic trace elements, and phytogenic as feed additives. From this analysis, natural products can improve animal health and consequently albumen quality. Future research should focus on effects of these natural products in extending shelf life of the albumen during storage and at different storage conditions. Research in that direction may provide insight into albumen quality and its biological value in fresh and stored eggs.

Effects of sweet potato vine silage supplementation on meat quality, antioxidant capacity and immune function in finishing pigs.

Sweet potato vine, the byproduct of sweet potato, has a highnutritional value. Silage is an effective solution for nutrientpreservation. This article explored the effects of sweet potato vine silage (SPVS) supplementation on meat quality, antioxidant capacity and immune function in finishing pigs. One hundred and eightyfinishing pigs (Berkshire × Licha Black) with a body weight of 74.54 ± 3.32 kg were randomly divided into three groups. The three groups were separately fed basal diet (Ctrl), Ctrl supplemented with 2.5% SPVS (LSPVS) or 5% SPVS (HSPVS) on a dry matter basis. Results showed that the eye muscle area in the LSPVS group was significantly increased. The carcass weight in the HSPVS was significantly reduced compared with Ctrl. For the meat quality, only cooking loss in both HSPVS and LSPVS was reduced while other indexes had no significant differences. For the antioxidant capacity, the hepatic level of glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (GSH-PX) was significantly upregulated in LSPVS but downregulated in HSPVS. In the serum, HSPVS decreased GSHlevel and increased GSH-PX level. HSPVS significantly reduced hepatic interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels and LSPVS significantly reduced IL-12levels and increased IL-8and IL-6levels. Moreover, HSPVS and LSPVS promoted the secretion of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgGin the serum. Our data showed that low-dose SPVS supplementation improved carcass traits and high-dose SPVS supplementation increased immune function in finishing pigs, which provides a new alternative to improve animal health.

A comprehensive review of viruses in terrestrial animals from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Viruses pose a major threat to animal health worldwide, causing significant mortalities and morbidities in livestock, companion animals and wildlife, with adverse implications on human health, livelihoods, food safety and security, regional/national economies and biodiversity. The Greater and Lesser Antilles consist of a cluster of islands between the North and South Americas and is habitat to a wide variety of animal species. This review is the first to put together decades of information on different viruses circulating in companion animals, livestock and wildlife from the Caribbean islands of Greater and Lesser Antilles. Although animal viral diseases have been documented in the Caribbean region since the 1940s, we found that studies on different animal viruses are limited, inconsistent and scattered. Furthermore, a significant number of the reports were based on serological assays, yielding preliminary data. The available information was assessed to identify knowledge gaps and limitations, and accordingly, recommendations were made, with the overall goal to improve animal health and production, and combat zoonoses in the region.

Exposure to a Virtual Environment Induces Biological and Microbiota Changes in Onset-of-Lay Hens

Increasing demand for cage-free eggs arises from goals to provide hens with better welfare, particularly in terms of natural behavior. However, most laying hens are kept in conventional cages, and cage-free systems can present challenges, such as injuries, floor eggs, and bacterial infections. We proposed using virtual reality (VR) as a feasible means for combining the positive attributes of natural environments while mitigating health risks. To our knowledge, no animal study has provided evidence that VR can trigger biological changes to improve animal health and well-being nor whether VR can affect the gut microbiota. In this study, we used VR technology to simulate a natural environment in laying hen housing. Early-lay White Leghorn hens were placed in pens with (VR) or without (CON) video projections displaying free-range chickens interacting with indoor and outdoor environmental features over 5 days. Using in vitro blood bactericidal assays, VR hens exhibited higher resistance against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli versus CON (p &amp;lt; 0.05), which was positively associated with corticosterone levels (p &amp;lt; 0.01). Analyzing intestinal neurochemicals via ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography, salsolinol was the only neurochemical metabolite affected by VR, being greater in CON ileal content (p &amp;lt; 0.0001), in VR ileal mucus (p &amp;lt; 0.01), and in VR ceca tissue (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Using 16S rRNA sequencing and QIIME2 analyses, no differences in alpha nor beta diversity were determined between groups. Although several genera (Megamonas, Ruminococcus, Slackia) were reduced in VR hens versus CON, Mucispirillum schaedleri (member of Deferribacteres Phylum) was the only taxon increased in VR hens, being elevated in ileal mucus (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Lastly, using the QIIME2 plugin mmvec to map microbe-metabolite co-occurrences, we identified several positive relationships between bacterial phyla and neurochemical metabolites, notably finding dopamine and salsolinol levels were related to Deferribacteres and Tenericutes levels. In conclusion, we found that several biological parameters were influenced by VR treatment in hens, suggesting that VR can be used to improve host resistance to pathogens and gut health in poultry.

Deployment of Wireless Sensor Network and IoT Platform to Implement an Intelligent Animal Monitoring System

This study aimed to realize Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e., no poverty, zero hunger, and sustainable cities and communities through the implementation of an intelligent cattle-monitoring system to enhance dairy production. Livestock industries in developing countries lack the technology that can directly impact meat and dairy products, where human resources are a major factor. This study proposed a novel, cost-effective, smart dairy-monitoring system by implementing intelligent wireless sensor nodes, the Internet of Things (IoT), and a Node-Micro controller Unit (Node-MCU). The proposed system comprises three modules, including an intelligent environmental parameter regularization system, a cow collar (equipped with a temperature sensor, a GPS module to locate the animal, and a stethoscope to update the heart rate), and an automatic water-filling unit for drinking water. Furthermore, a novel IoT-based front end has been developed to take data from prescribed modules and maintain a separate database for further analysis. The presented Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSNs) can intelligently determine the case of any instability in environmental parameters. Moreover, the cow collar is designed to obtain precise values of the temperature, heart rate, and accurate location of the animal. Additionally, auto-notification to the concerned party is a valuable addition developed in the cow collar design. It employed a plug-and-play design to provide ease in implementation. Moreover, automation reduces human intervention, hence labor costs are decreased when a farm has hundreds of animals. The proposed system also increases the production of dairy and meat products by improving animal health via the regularization of the environment and automated food and watering. The current study represents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the proposed implementation with the existing systems that validate the novelty of this work. This implementation can be further stretched for other applications, i.e., smart monitoring of zoo animals and poultry.

The Mediterranean diet and One Health: A study in synergies

Abstract Food consumption patterns (diets) lie at the nexus of human wellness and environmental conservation. The Mediterranean diet, the traditional food and lifestyle patterns of the Mediterranean populations, is a plant-based whole foods cultural model of a healthy diet. The environmental benefits are rooted in the agro-silvo-pastoral farming systems promoting sustainable productivity, and conserving biodiversity and water resources, while also decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and future land clearing. Pasture-based husbandry results in improved animal health and welfare. Understanding the ancient hierarchy of synergies in this complex system can aid policy-makers, public health planners, agriculturists, and animal advocates meet present and future challenges. One Health Impact Statement Food choice can have a profound effect on human health and the environment. Less obvious is the impact on the health and welfare of food-producing animals. The Mediterranean dietary and lifestyle pattern is a plant-based whole foods diet, arising from sustainable agroecological practices, resulting in tangible benefits in all three domains. The synergistic aspects of each domain assemble into a complex system exemplifying the interdisciplinary concept of One Health that is crucial to meeting the challenges of today.

The Benefit of Healthy Hedgerows

There is an interest in hedgerows because they are home to both plants and animals and provide habitat connection corridors to enable wildlife can move around the landscape. They also deliver a number of additional benefits to farmland, beyond that of a field boundary. These can include: • shelter for livestock • regulation of water supply for crops • improvements in animal health • reduction in soil erosion • reduction in the need for pesticide use • sustaining pollinator communities which support productive farming • providing a sustainable source of wood fuel • reducing the risk of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds • reducing the rate of climate change through carbon storage • reducing pollution

Metatranscriptomic Analysis of the Chicken Gut Resistome Response to In-Feed Antibiotics and Natural Feed Additives.

The emergence of resistance against common antibiotics in the gut microbiota is a major issue for both human and livestock health. This highlights the need for understanding the impact of such application on the reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes in poultry gut and devising means to circumvent the potential resistome expansion. Phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) are potential natural alternative to antibiotic to improve animal health and performance, supposedly via positively affecting the gut microbial ecosystem, but there is little systematic information available. In this time-course study, we applied a shotgun meta-transcriptomics approach to investigate the impact of a PFA product as well as the commonly used antibiotic, zinc bacitracin either at AGP concentration or therapeutic concentration on the gut microbiome and resistome of broiler chickens raised for 35 days. Over the course of the trial, PFA treatments increased the abundance of Firmicutes such as Lactobacillus and resulted in a lower abundance of Escherichia, while the latter group increased significantly in the feces of chickens that received either AGP or AB doses of bacitracin. Tetracycline resistance and aminoglycoside resistance were the predominant antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) classes found, regardless of the treatment. PFA application resulted in a decrease in abundance of ARGs compared to those in the control group and other antibiotic treatment groups. In summary, the findings from this study demonstrate the potential of phytogenic feed additives could be an alternative to antibiotics in poultry farming, with the added benefit of counteracting antimicrobial resistance development.

PSIV-6 Engineering Microbes to Develop Novel Direct Fed Microbials as an Alternative to Prophylactic Antibiotic Use in Beef Cattle Production

Abstract One of the largest animal health related issues in the beef industry is liver abscesses. While the liver is not a significant loss, abscesses formed results in reduced animal performance and carcass yield resulting in reduced feed intake, reduced weight gain, decreased feed efficiency, and decreased carcass dressing percentage. Currently, the most effective method for controlling liver abscesses is the use of antibiotics belonging, to the macrolide family, named Tylosin. Tylosin has been a great resource, however increased use of antibiotics in the beef industry has come under great scrutiny due to emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Therefore, it is critical to develop new methods and technologies to improve beef production while reducing antimicrobial use to feed the growing population. Apart from prophylactic use of antibiotics, a proven strategy for reducing liver abscesses has not been developed. We believe, direct fed microbials (DFM) are promising alternatives to reduce antibiotic use in beef cattle production and to improve animal health, well-being, and productivity. However, many of the strains with the highest potential to reduce antibiotic use are found in non-GRAS (generally accepted as safe) organisms. Additionally, since a single microbe can’t inhibit all pathogens, DFM cocktails need to be used to be effective broad spectrum. In this study, we genetically engineered a GRAS approved Bacillus pumilus strain to carry bacteriocins from a non-GRAS approved strain to enhance the capacity of the GRAS approved strain to inhibit liver abscess causing pathogens. We utilized CRISPR/Cas9 system to identify naturally occurring bacterial genes that inhibit pathogen growth and introduced such genes into a GRAS approved strains using transposon mutagenesis and screened for isolates with increased inhibition against pathogens. Such genetically modified bacteria were able to inhibit the pathogens to a greater extent than the wild type B. pumilus strain in in-vitro experiments.

Functional and Phylogenetic Characterization of Bacteria in Bovine Rumen Using Fractionation of Ruminal Fluid.

Cattle productivity depends on our ability to fully understand and manipulate the fermentation process of plant material that occurs in the bovine rumen, which ultimately leads to the improvement of animal health and increased productivity with a reduction in environmental impact. An essential step in this direction is the phylogenetic and functional characterization of the microbial species composing the ruminal microbiota. To address this challenge, we separated a ruminal fluid sample by size and density using a sucrose density gradient. We used the full sample and the smallest fraction (5%), allowing the enrichment of bacteria, to assemble metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). We obtained a total of 16 bacterial genomes, 15 of these enriched in the smallest fraction of the gradient. According to the recently proposed Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) taxonomy, these MAGs belong to Bacteroidota, Firmicutes_A, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetota phyla. Fifteen MAGs were novel at the species level and four at the genus level. The functional characterization of these MAGs suggests differences from what is currently known from the genomic potential of well-characterized members from this complex environment. Species of the phyla Bacteroidota and Spirochaetota show the potential for hydrolysis of complex polysaccharides in the plant cell wall and toward the production of B-complex vitamins and protein degradation in the rumen. Conversely, the MAGs belonging to Firmicutes and Alphaproteobacteria showed a reduction in several metabolic pathways; however, they have genes for lactate fermentation and the presence of hydrolases and esterases related to chitin degradation. Our results demonstrate that the separation of the rumen microbial community by size and density reduced the complexity of the ruminal fluid sample and enriched some poorly characterized ruminal bacteria allowing exploration of their genomic potential and their functional role in the rumen ecosystem.

A Doomed Technology? On Gene Editing in Bavarian Livestock Agriculture, Policy Field Conflicts and Responsible Research and Innovation

The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 has recently, for the first time, rendered the large-scale genetic modification of livestock animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens possible. Novel editing targets range from genes that curb disease vulnerabilities, increase muscle mass, or convey hornlessness, to the development of transgenic pigs for medical use. In this article, we discuss the efforts of a transdisciplinary research consortium in Bavaria, Germany, to test the technical and social feasibility of using CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing as a novel technology in Bavarian small- to medium-scale livestock agriculture. The consortium comprised life scientists, local breeding associations, legal scholars, and social scientists from Science &amp;amp; Technology Studies (STS) and aimed to promote Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) for gene editing technologies. Research focused on gene editing applications that improved animal health and all editing targets were co-developed with local breeding associations to meet the situated needs of small- to medium-scale livestock farmers in Bavaria. In this article, we discuss why the agricultural stakeholders in the project, that is, the representatives of local breeding associations, considered that, despite the project's success in generating positive research outcomes, it would be unlikely that results will be implemented in Bavarian livestock agriculture. We describe this situation in terms of a tension between agendas in the science and technology policy field and in the agricultural policy field in Bavaria that impacts local farmers' ability to adopt gene editing technologies. We further discuss what it might mean for RRI practices if public stakeholders are unlikely to benefit from the outcomes of RRI practices due to policy field conflicts or other contextual constraints and how STS scholars and other social scientists involved in RRI projects could adjust their practices to possibly redistribute benefits.

Vaccines as a Strategy to Control Trichinellosis.

Trichinellosis caused by Trichinella spiralis is a worldwide food-borne parasitic zoonosis. Several approaches have been performed to control T. spiralis infection, including veterinary vaccines, which contribute to improving animal health and increasing public health by preventing the transmission of trichinellosis from animals to humans. In the past several decades, many vaccine studies have been performed in effort to control T. spiralis infection by reducing the muscle larvae and adult worms burden. Various candidate antigens, selected from excretory-secretory (ES) products and different functional proteins involved in the process of establishing infection have been investigated in rodent or swine models to explore their protective effect against T. spiralis infection. Moreover, different types of vaccines have been developed to improve the protective effect against T. spiralis infection in rodent or swine models, such as live attenuated vaccines, natural antigen vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, DNA vaccines, and synthesized epitope vaccines. However, few studies of T. spiralis vaccines have been performed in pigs, and future research should focus on exploring the protective effect of different types of vaccines in swine models. Here, we present an overview of the strategies for the development of effective T. spiralis vaccines and summarize the factors of influencing the effectiveness of vaccines. We also discuss several propositions in improving the effectiveness of vaccines and may provide a route map for future T. spiralis vaccines development.

High infection rate of tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial pathogens of cattle in Malawi and the development of a multiplex PCR for Babesia and Theileria species identification

Malawi has an estimated cattle population of 1,884,803 heads, the indigenous Malawi zebu breed accounts for 91.2%, while the exotic and crossbred accounts for the remaining 8.8%. Although ticks and tick-borne diseases are widespread in Malawi, no molecular study has been conducted to investigate the tick-borne Anaplasmataceae and piroplasms infecting cattle. To provide an insight into the current status of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of cattle, a molecular survey was conducted in the central and southern regions of Malawi. A total of 191 cattle of which 132 were Malawi zebu, 44 were Holstein Friesian and 15 were Holstein-Friesian/ Malawi zebu crosses were screened for Anaplasmataceae and piroplasms using the heat shock protein groEL gene and 18S rDNA, respectively. A new 18S rDNA multiplex PCR assay was designed for Babesia and Theileria species identification without sequencing. Overall, 92.3% (n = 177) of the examined animals were infected with at least one TBP. Anaplasmataceae-positive rate was 57.6% (n = 110) while for piroplasms it was 80.1% (n = 153). The detected Anaplasmataceae were Anaplasma bovis 2.6% (n = 5), Anaplasma marginale 24.6% (n = 47), Anaplasma platys-like 13.6% (n = 26), uncharacterized Anaplasma sp. 14.1% (n = 27), and uncharacterized Ehrlichia sp. 16.2% (n = 31). The detected piroplasms were Babesia bigemina 2.6% (n = 5), Theileria mutans 73.8% (n = 141), Theileria parva 33.0% (n = 63), Theileria taurotragi 12.6% (n = 24), and Theileria velifera 53.4% (n = 102). Mixed infection rate was found in 79.6% (n = 152) of the samples analyzed. This study has shown a high burden of TBPs among cattle in Malawi which highlights the need to conceive new methods to control ticks and TBPs in order to improve animal health and productivity. The newly developed multiplex PCR assay would be a useful tool especially in resource limited settings where sequencing is not available and when mixed infections are expected.

Severe mandibular osteomyelitis and exfoliation of a mandibular canine tooth in a Vietnamese potbellied pig

A 10-year-old male castrated Vietnamese potbellied pig presented for evaluation of a dermal mass present on the left cervico-mandibular region. The patient had a mass removed 6 years earlier from the same region, which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma on histopathology. On physical examination, all vital parameters, including heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature, were within normal reference ranges, and the owner reported a normal appetite with no recent history of weight loss. Upon intubation for the dermal mass removal, a large heterogeneous mass of material was observed in the rostral aspect of the left mandible (Figure 1). Once removed, the mass appeared to be grossly composed of foodstuffs, hair, and a firm, mineralized segment of unknown material (Figure 2a). Within the contents of this debris, the left mandibular canine tooth (304) or tusk was identified. For the size of the mass of material, there was minimal inflammation associated with the gingiva and the mucosa (Figure 2b). There did not appear to be any evidence of displacement of the remaining teeth in the area. The periodontal attachment appeared to be normal in the remaining teeth. Computed tomography (CT) of the head was performed with the patient anaesthetized as previously described1 and positioned in sternal recumbency. Findings included severe, multifocal, chronic periodontal disease. The left mandibular canine tooth (304) or tusk was absent, and there was a large bony defect associated with the left mandibular body along the alveolar margin. The bony defect continued to affect the buccal aspect of the mandibular body (Figure 3). There was also extensive periapical lysis and evidence of external tooth resorption of the right mandibular canine tooth (404). The radiographic dental abnormalities were consistent with severe diffuse mandibular osteomyelitis characterized by multifocal moth-eaten bone lysis and irregular periosteal new bone formation, and multiple draining tracts from the right ventral mandible. Additional radiographic findings included absence of all premolar and molar teeth except the right first maxillary premolar (105), multifocal periapical lysis of the remaining teeth, bilateral medial retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy, and evidence of bilateral otitis externa and right otitis media. Miniature companion pigs (MCPs) are increasing in popularity as companion animal pets in North America.2 While data for exact numbers are limited, MCPs first appeared in the United States in the 1980s, with a dramatic increase in popularity over the past 17 years.3 With the increase in numbers, preventive care strategies are essential to improve animal health and welfare. Commonly reported dental pathologies in MCPs include missing teeth (most commonly the first mandibular premolar), periodontal disease, and tooth resorption.4 Early diagnosis of dental disease and mandibular osteomyelitis is important for companion animal pigs, considering their potentially long life span. Extraction of an infected tusk can be quite challenging. In cases of severe infection and disease, the integrity of the mandible can be affected to the point where it can be unstable after the extraction.5 Osteomyelitis can be managed with long-term antimicrobial therapy, including oral, injectable, and regional infusion of antibiotic-impregnated compounds, depending on lesion location.6 Removal of the infected nidus, in many cases the tooth, is critical for a positive long-term outcome. A complete oral assessment with inclusion of dental radiographs in MCPs should be considered for proper preventative dental care.4 As evidenced by our case, CT is also beneficial for a thorough oral evaluation and dental assessment. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This case represents a retrospective clinical case report and not a prospective study that requires institutional approval. The authors received no specific funding for this work. Open access funding provided by the Iowa State University Library.

A Glimpse into Artificial Intelligence in Animal Physiology and Allied Sciences

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has developed as an interdisciplinary science based on computers and is concerned with building machines and equipment which use human intelligence to perform a particular task. The role of AI is manifold in our day-to-day lives. With high penetration amongst people in different societies, AI has transformed the way of living and has the potential to act as a vehicle to disseminate information regarding animal health, production, and reproduction aspects. AI has already made an immense contribution in veterinary and allied sciences by helping in devising various applications used in research and simulation aids. In addition, it has been put in to use efficiently in the field of veterinary sciences thereby hastening diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of various animal diseases. The history of AI, its applications as software packages in statistics, bioinformatics, simulation apps, and a list of various equipment used for analytical, clinical, and livestock farm purposes are elaborated in this article. Despite playing a vital role, AI has to be further refined in such a way to target the rural livestock farmers to improve animal health and production in developing countries that are in dire need of meeting food security requirements amidst the current scenario of population explosion.

Assessing Goats' Fecal Avoidance Using Image Analysis-Based Monitoring

The recent advances in sensor technologies and data analysis could improve our capacity to acquire long-term and individual dataset on animal behavior. In livestock management, this is particularly interesting when behavioral data could be linked to production performances, physiological or genetical information, with the objective of improving animal health and welfare management. In this study, we proposed a framework, based on computer vision and deep learning, to automatically estimate animal location within pasture and discuss the relationship with the risk of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection. We illustrated our framework for the monitoring of goats allowed to graze an experimental plot, where feces containing GIN infective larvae were previously dropped in delimited areas. Four animals were monitored, during two grazing weeks on the same pasture (week 1 from April 12 to 19, 2021 and week 2, from June 28 to July 5, 2021). Using the monitoring framework, different components of animal behavior were analyzed, and the relationship with the risk of GIN infection was explored. First, in average, 87.95% of the goats were detected, the detected individuals were identified with an average sensitivity of 94.9%, and an average precision of 94.8%. Second, the monitoring of the ability of the animal to avoid infected feces on pasture showed an important temporal and individual variability. Interestingly, the avoidance behavior of 3 animals increased during the second grazing week (Wilcoxon rank sum, p-value &amp;lt; 0.05), and the level of increase was correlated with the level of infection during week 1 (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.9). The relationship between the time spent on GIN-infested areas and the level of infection was also studied, but no clear relationship was found. In conclusion, due to the low number of studied animals, biological results should be interpreted with caution; nevertheless, the framework provided here is a new relevant tool to explore the relationship between ruminant behavior and GIN parasitism in experimental studies.

The application of ascorbic acid as a therapeutic feed additive to boost immunity and antioxidant activity of poultry in heat stress environment.

Ascorbic acid, widely known as vtamin C, is an essential nutrient for animals such as poultry. Ascorbic acid in poultry feed improves animal health and thus increases the growth performance of birds. Ascorbic acid can be used in the form of synthetic products or can be naturally obtained from fruits and plants. It is soluble in water and can be easily administered in drinking water and the diet. Poultry can synthesize ascorbic acid in the body. However, the performance of the animals can be improved by adding ascorbic acid to their diet. In addition, ascorbic acid is called an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. This increases their resistance to disease during the transition season. Ascorbic acid supplementation positively affects the stress response, especially during the dry season in tropical countries. Furthermore, supplementing ascorbic acid in the poultry’s diet improves resistance to diseases, regulates stress, and helps in the body’s oxidation process. Ultimately, this enhances the laying rate, egg hatch performance, and higher poultry productivity. For layers at the end of the laying period, it helps increase the quality of the eggshell and reduces the proportion of broken eggs. Ascorbic acid has a strong relationship with other vitamins such as vitamin E and other substances such as zinc, safflower oil, folic acid, and a fibrous diet. This review aims to synthesize all the information of ascorbic acid in the poultry’s diet, thereby providing the general role of ascorbic acid for the poultry industry.