Veterinary Training Research Articles

Initial validation of an intelligent video surveillance system for automatic detection of dairy cattle lameness.

Lameness is a major welfare challenge facing the dairy industry worldwide. Monitoring herd lameness prevalence, and early detection and therapeutic intervention are important aspects of lameness control in dairy herds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a commercially available video surveillance system for automatic detection of dairy cattle lameness (CattleEye Ltd). This was achieved by first measuring mobility score agreement between CattleEye and two veterinarians (Assessor 1 and Assessor 2), and second, by investigating the ability of the CattleEye system to detect cows with potentially painful foot lesions. We analysed 6,040 mobility scores collected from three dairy farms. Inter-rate agreement was estimated by calculating percentage agreement (PA), Cohen's kappa (κ) and Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC). Data regarding the presence of foot lesions were also available for a subset of this dataset. The ability of the system to predict the presence of potentially painful foot lesions was tested against that of Assessor 1 by calculating measures of accuracy, using lesion records during the foot trimming sessions as reference. In general, inter-rater agreement between CattleEye and either human assessor was strong and similar to that between the human assessors, with PA and AC being consistently above 80% and 0.80, respectively. Kappa agreement between CattleEye and the human scorers was in line with previous studies (investigating agreement between human assessors) and within the fair to moderate agreement range. The system was more sensitive than Assessor 1 in identifying cows with potentially painful lesions, with 0.52 sensitivity and 0.81 specificity compared to the Assessor's 0.29 and 0.89 respectively. This pilot study showed that the CattleEye system achieved scores comparable to that of two experienced veterinarians and was more sensitive than a trained veterinarian in detecting painful foot lesions.

Use of laboratory animals and issues regarding the procurement of animals for research in Korea

BackgroundLaboratory animals remain critical to biomedical research, despite the increasing availability of alternative approaches. Indeed, scientists strive to reduce and refine and replace the use of laboratory animals, even in the face of public calls for ever-more stringent regulation for the protection and care of animals in research. This report outlines the current status and legal regulatory issues with regard to the procurement and use of animals for research in Korea.ResultsThe number of animals used for education and research purposes was increased nationwide, from 2.5 to 4.9 million in 2015 and 2021, respectively. When compared with figures from the UK, institutions in Korea were found to use more mammals such as mice and dogs. In our research, we identified three major issues concerning recent animal supply in Korea, particularly: (1) Purchase of dogs from unregistered animal supplier for a dog cloning project; (2) Purchase of dogs from an unclear source for veterinary education and training; (3) Illegal cat experiments using cats obtained from unauthorized routes.ConclusionsOur findings support the notion that alternatives to laboratory animal research should be implemented. We conclude that improvements in the regulations and guidelines for animal suppliers, together with the recent introduction of legislation will improve animal safety and wellbeing of animals in laboratory research in Korea.

Use of abstract reflection to enhance student learning from theriogenology practical classes

Veterinary training is a resource-consuming process. Practical sessions throughout the curriculum are considered vital aspects of professional training and consume large amounts of time, space, and human resources and are not without risks to human and animal health. It is, therefore, important that the educational experience is optimized during practical sessions. Mentee dialogue with mentors, as part of institutional peer teaching support, aimed to optimize the practical sessions to develop professional expertise (knowledge and skills) of veterinary theriogenology students. We used the theory of experiential learning and reflective observation as a means of enhancing learning during the practical sessions. We attempted to do this by discussing abstract concepts associated with authentic learning tasks covered in each practical session. Anonymous end-of-course student feed-back revealed that the process encouraged in-depth and alternative critical thinking and discussion in the groups, which was a fun way for them to embed the knowledge and develop the skills being taught. The use of ‘abstract reflection’ appears to be a useful and efficient way of enhancing the value of laboratory practical teaching and learning resources within the veterinary theriogenology curriculum. The vibrancy associated with collegiate interactions between academic staff members and educational designers results in a more enthusiastic and beneficial teaching culture and learning environment, and the development of students to become better, agentic, and more deliberate professionals.

The bovine pregnancy diagnosis challenge: evidence-based evolution of a teaching intervention over 8 years of use

This article describes the implementation of an educational intervention, ‘bovine pregnancy diagnosis challenge’ over an 8-year period, and how evidence-based changes were applied to ensure the best learning outcome for bovine pregnancy diagnosis (PD) via transrectal palpation. With the worldwide shift from mainly knowledge-based to competency-based veterinary courses, many new and innovative teaching interventions have been introduced into veterinary education. These teaching interventions include but are not limited to simulators, models, virtual realities, applications, and computer-assisted learning tools; of which, many have been implemented into various veterinary training programs. While these advances are noteworthy, the question still remains as to whether or not the implementation of these teaching interventions is optimal. Do we know the ‘when,’ ‘who’, and ‘how’ of a specific intervention that will optimize the educational outcome? The described evolution of the bovine PD challenge shows how these questions were investigated for transrectal palpation skills, and how changes were implemented to optimize student training. This is an example of an approach that could be applied widely for validation and skills training investigations within veterinary education to optimize learning outcomes.

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.

Veterinary Education and Training on Non-Traditional Companion Animals, Exotic, Zoo, and Wild Animals: Concepts Review and Challenging Perspective on Zoological Medicine.

The role of veterinarians is becoming more significant and necessary to support the welfare and health not only of non-traditional companion animals and wildlife animals, but also of humans and the environment. The importance of the One Health/One World concept and its social impact is increasing significantly, accompanied by the notoriety of new emerging and reemerging zoonoses. This paper aims to review and anchor the main concepts and professional applications of zoological medicine, which has been extensively discussed and adapted in recent decades. In addition, we analyse the main social demands, training, and educational needs and the perception of veterinary professionals relating to this specialised veterinary discipline. Our final goal is to reinforce the use of the term zoological medicine and contribute to highlight the need to foster and underpin specific educational policies and programs on this matter in the veterinary curricula. Zoological medicine should be the appropriate and agreed-upon term in the academic language concerning the veterinary medicine of pets, wild, or zoo species, excluding traditional domestic animals, and integrating the principles of ecology and conservation, applied to both natural and artificial environments. This discipline has suffered an intense evolution covering applications in private clinics, zoos, bioparks, and wildlife. All this implies current and future challenges for the veterinary profession that can only be addressed with greater and better attention from multiple perspectives, especially the education and training of professionals to improve and specialise in their professional scope of services.

95 Health parameter variation in emaciated stock-type horses going through two refeeding protocols

Equine health and welfare are a concern in the equine industry and veterinary medicine. Clinical health parameters such as Body Condition Scores (BCS), weight, body temperature (T°C), respiratory (RR), heart rate (HR) and hematological evaluation assist the veterinarian in the diagnosis of emaciation due to abuse or neglect. Yet, clinical parameters through the recovery process of emaciated horses are not well studied. Our goal is to establish recovery profiles in emaciated horses going through 2 modified refeeding protocols. We acquired 11 stock-type horses (Geldings = 3, Mares = 8) aged between late-teens and early 20s, with a BCS ≤3, of unknown health history. Animals were quarantined for 30 d at the Sul Ross Horse Unit upon arrival and offered free-choice grass hay, with health care provided as needed and pregnancy checks performed by trained veterinarians. Vaccinations (Equi-Jec 7, Boehringer Ingelheim) and deworming (Ivermectin 2%) were conducted during the quarantine. Clinical parameters of T°C, RR and HR, as well as BCS were collected a week after arrival (Quarantine), during Adaptation and then weekly into the refeeding protocol (Week 1 and 2) by trained veterinarians and animal scientists (n = 4). Hematological analysis including complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry (BC) were performed before the adaptation to the refeeding protocol, with a mid-point (Week 4) and post (end of Week 8) analysis scheduled (Texas A&M VMDL). Preliminary analysis show significant differences in RR [F(6,36) = 4.34, P = 0.0022] and T°C [F(6,36) = 2.71, P = 0.0284] during recovery. While thisstudy is ongoing, preliminary data demonstrates improvement in clinical health parameters of the studied horses (Table 1). Better understanding of the changes throughout recovery in starved horses will support decision-making for the equine industry. Data originating from this study will support standards for the care of neglected and malnourished horses.

Enhancing Primary Care Learning in a Referral Hospital Setting: Introducing Veterinary Clinical Demonstrators.

With the majority of veterinary graduates entering primary care practice (PCP), there is increasing recognition of the importance of preparing students to practice across a broad spectrum of care (SoC). The traditional model of veterinary training focused on the referral hospital environment, can make this challenging. In 2018, Bristol Veterinary School recruited five primary care (PC) veterinary surgeons as veterinary clinical demonstrators (VCDs) who collaborated with rotation-specific specialists to help enhance student focus upon day-one skills and to emphasize SoC relevance of the referral caseload. To evaluate the initiative, two separate online surveys were disseminated to clinical staff and final year veterinary students. The survey was completed by 57 students and 42 staff members. Participants agreed that VCDs helped students feel prepared for a first job in primary care practice (students 94.7%; staff 92.7%); helped students to focus on the primary care relevance of referral cases (students 96.5%; staff 70.8%); helped students develop clinical reasoning skills (students 100%; staff 69.3%), practical skills (students 82.4%; staff 72.5%), and professional attributes (students 59.6%; staff 71.4%). Thematic analysis of free-text comments revealed the benefits and challenges associated with implementing the role. The data gathered helped to guide the role's ongoing development and to provide recommendations for others who may be looking to implement similar educational initiatives to help prepare graduates to practice across a spectrum of care.

Rating and ranking preparedness characteristics important for veterinary workplace clinical training: a novel application of pairwise comparisons and the Elo algorithm.

Quantitatively eliciting perspectives about a large number of similar entities (such as a list of competences) is a challenge for researchers in health professions education (HPE). Traditional survey methods may include using Likert items. However, a Likert item approach that generates absolute ratings of the entities may suffer from the "ceiling effect," as ratings cluster at one end of the scale. This impacts on researchers' ability to detect differences in ratings between the entities themselves and between respondent groups. This paper describes the use of pairwise comparison (this or that?) questions and a novel application of the Elo algorithm to generate relative ratings and rankings of a large number of entities, on a unidimensional scale. A study assessing the relative importance of 91 student "preparedness characteristics" for veterinary workplace clinical training (WCT) is presented as an example of this method in action. The Elo algorithm uses pairwise comparison responses to generate an importance rating for each preparedness characteristic on a scale from zero to one. This is continuous data with measurement variability which, by definition, spans an entire spectrum and is not susceptible to the ceiling effect. The output should allow for the detection of differences in perspectives between groups of survey respondents (such as students and workplace supervisors) which Likert ratings may be insensitive to. Additional advantages of the pairwise comparisons are their low susceptibility to systematic bias and measurement error, they can be quicker and arguably more engaging to complete than Likert items, and they should carry a low cognitive load for respondents. Methods for evaluating the validity and reliability of this survey design are also described. This paper presents a method that holds great potential for a diverse range of applications in HPE research. In the pursuit quantifying perspectives on survey items which are measured on a relative basis and a unidimensional scale (e.g., importance, priority, probability), this method is likely to be a valuable option.

The detection and prediction of surgical site infections using multi-modal sensors and machine learning: Results in an animal model.

Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is a common healthcare-associated infection that imposes a considerable clinical and economic burden on healthcare systems. Advances in wearable sensors and digital technologies have unlocked the potential for the early detection and diagnosis of SSI, which can help reduce this healthcare burden and lower SSI-associated mortality rates. In this study, we evaluated the ability of a multi-modal bio-signal system to predict current and developing superficial incisional infection in a porcine model infected with Methicillin Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) using a bagged, stacked, and balanced ensemble logistic regression machine learning model. Results demonstrated that the expression levels of individual biomarkers (i.e., peri-wound tissue oxygen saturation, temperature, and bioimpedance) differed between non-infected and infected wounds across the study period, with cross-correlation analysis indicating that a change in bio-signal expression occurred 24 to 31 hours before this change was reflected by clinical wound scoring methods employed by trained veterinarians. Moreover, the multi-modal ensemble model indicated acceptable discriminability to detect the presence of a current superficial incisional SSI (AUC = 0.77), to predict an SSI 24 hours in advance of veterinarian-based SSI diagnosis (AUC = 0.80), and to predict an SSI 48 hours in advance of veterinarian-based SSI diagnosis (AUC = 0.74). In sum, the results of the current study indicate that non-invasive multi-modal sensor and signal analysis systems have the potential to detect and predict superficial incisional SSIs in porcine subjects under experimental conditions.

Development of core competencies for field veterinary epidemiology training programs.

A workforce with the adequate field epidemiology knowledge, skills and abilities is the foundation of a strong and effective animal health system. Field epidemiology training is conducted in several countries to meet the increased global demand for such a workforce. However, core competencies for field veterinary epidemiology have not been identified and agreed upon globally, leading to the development of different training curricula. Having a set of agreed core competencies can harmonize field veterinary epidemiology training. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) initiated a collective, iterative, and participative process to achieve this and organized two expert consultative workshops in 2018 to develop core competencies for field veterinary epidemiology at the frontline and intermediate levels. Based on these expert discussions, 13 competencies were identified for the frontline and intermediate levels. These competencies were organized into three domains: epidemiological surveillance and studies; field investigation, preparedness and response; and One Health, communication, ethics and professionalism. These competencies can be used to facilitate the development of field epidemiology training curricula for veterinarians, adapted to country training needs, or customized for training other close disciplines. The competencies can also be useful for mentors and employers to monitor and evaluate the progress of their mentees, or to guide the selection process during the recruitment of new staff.

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.

Online veterinary anatomy education during Covid-19 pandemic in Iran: Challenges and opportunities.

The covid-19 pandemic changed veterinary anatomy in-person training to inexperienced virtual training rapidly. This survey was designed to assess the perceptions of first- and second-year Iranian veterinary students on learning outcomes during the online transition. The opinions of 684 students were examined using questionnaire. The data showed that 23.8% of students were interested in learning anatomy online and 24.8% were satisfied with it. Only 13.5% of the students in the survey generally agree with replacing remote teaching with ordinary training. Less than 1% of students considered online education suitable for the practical part of anatomy. Most of the students' sources for theoretical part included professor's booklets, narrated PowerPoint lectures, in-class notes, and anatomy books. Professors' dissection videos, YouTube videos and also anatomy atlases were the most used sources for practical part. Many students (69.3%) were comfortable using technology. Few numbers of the students (36.1%) were satisfied with the result of the online anatomy exam. Students commented missing dissection, lack of interaction and technology challenges as main negative-points of E-learning. While time management and reviewing the recorded lessons was described as one of the most important benefits. Online education cannot replace face-to-face education in anatomy and it can be used along ordinary training as an additional educational tool. However, group online learning activities, using dissection videos and 3-D software are suggested for online learning. The data of this study, collected for the first time in Iran, can be used for future decisions in veterinary anatomy.

Establishing the Most Important Clinical Skills for New Graduate Veterinarians by Comparing Published Lists with Regional Stakeholder Expectations: A Bangladesh Experience.

Veterinary clinical skills training is evolving rapidly around the world and there is increasing interest in Bangladesh in opening clinical skills laboratories and using models in teaching. The first clinical skills laboratory was opened at Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in 2019. The current study aimed to identify the most important clinical skills for veterinarians in Bangladesh to inform the further development of clinical skills laboratories and ensure resources are deployed effectively and efficiently. Lists of clinical skills were collated from the literature, national and international accreditation standards, and regional syllabi. The list was refined through local consultation, focused on farm and pet animals, and was disseminated via an online survey to veterinarians and final-year students who were asked to rate the level of importance of each skill for a new graduate. The survey was completed by 215 veterinarians and 115 students. A ranked list was generated with injection techniques, animal handling, clinical examination, and basic surgical skills among the most important. Some techniques requiring specific equipment and some advanced surgical procedures were considered less important. As a result of the study, the most important clinical skills for a new graduate in Bangladesh have been identified for the first time. The results will inform the development of models, the use of clinical skills laboratories, and the design of clinical skills courses for veterinary training. Our approach of drawing upon existing lists followed by local stakeholders consultation is recommended to others to ensure clinical skills teaching is regionally relevant.

A narrative review of the impact of work hours and insufficient rest on job performance.

This review discusses the scientific evidence regarding effects of insufficient rest on clinical performance and house officer training programs, the associations of clinical duty scheduling with insufficient rest, and the implications for risk management. Narrative review. Several literature searches using broad terms such as "sleep deprivation," "veterinary," "physician," and "surgeon" were performed using PubMed and Google scholar. Sleep deprivation and insufficient rest have clear and deleterious effects on job performance, which in healthcare occupations impacts patient safety and practice function. The unique requirements of a career in veterinary surgery, which may include on-call shifts and overnight work, can lead to distinct sleep challenges and chronic insufficient rest with resultant serious but often poorly recognized impacts. These effects negatively impact practices, teams, surgeons, and patients. The self-assessment of fatigue and performance effect is demonstrably untrustworthy, reinforcing the need for institution-level protections. While the issues are complex and there is no one-size-fits-all approach, duty hour or workload restrictions may be an important first step in addressing these issues within veterinary surgery, as it has been in human medicine. Systematic re-examination of cultural expectations and practice logistics are needed if improvement in working hours, clinician well-being, productivity, and patient safety are to occur. A more comprehensive understanding of the magnitude and consequence of sleep-related impairment better enables surgeons and hospital management to address systemic challenges in veterinary practice and training programs.

Use of innovation and diverse experiences to enhance veterinary clinical training.

Use of innovation and diverse experiences to enhance veterinary clinical training.

A pocketful of communication aces.

Vets Roeland Wessels and Tessa Plagis, of veterinary communication training firm St Anna Advies, say good communication all comes down to the four As.

Sourcing high tissue quality brains from deceased wild primates with known socio‐ecology

Abstract The selection pressures that drove dramatic encephalisation processes through the mammal lineage remain elusive, as does knowledge of brain structure reorganisation through this process. In particular, considerable structural brain changes are present across the primate lineage, culminating in the complex human brain that allows for unique behaviours such as language and sophisticated tool use. To understand this evolution, a diverse sample set of humans' closest relatives with varying socio‐ecologies is needed. However, current brain banks predominantly curate brains from primates that died in zoological gardens. We try to address this gap by establishing a field pipeline mitigating the challenges associated with brain extractions of wild primates in their natural habitat. The success of our approach is demonstrated by our ability to acquire a novel brain sample of deceased primates with highly variable socio‐ecological exposure and a particular focus on wild chimpanzees. Methods in acquiring brain tissue from wild settings are comprehensively explained, highlighting the feasibility of conducting brain extraction procedures under strict biosafety measures by trained veterinarians in field sites. Brains are assessed at a fine‐structural level via high‐resolution MRI and state‐of‐the‐art histology. Analyses confirm that excellent tissue quality of primate brains sourced in the field can be achieved with a comparable tissue quality of brains acquired from zoo‐living primates. Our field methods are noninvasive, here defined as not harming living animals, and may be applied to other mammal systems than primates. In sum, the field protocol and methodological pipeline validated here pose a major advance for assessing the influence of socio‐ecology on medium to large mammal brains, at both macro‐ and microstructural levels as well as aiding with the functional annotation of brain regions and neuronal pathways via specific behaviour assessments.

Guidelines for resident training in veterinary clinical pathology. IV: Laboratory quality management-Teaching domains, competencies, and suggested learning outcomes.

The 2019 ASVCP Education Committee Forum for Discussion, presented at the annual ASVCP/ACVP meeting, identified a need to develop recommendations for teaching laboratory quality management principles in veterinary clinical pathology residency training programs. To present a competency-based framework for teaching laboratory quality management principles in veterinary clinical pathology residency training programs, including entrustable professional activities (EPAs), domains of competence, individual competencies, and learning outcomes. A joint subcommittee of the ASVCP Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standards (QALS) and Education Committees executed this project. A draft guideline version was reviewed by the ASVCP membership and shared with selected ACVP committees in early 2022, and a final version was voted upon by the full QALS and Education Committees in late 2022. Eleven domains of competence with relevant individual competencies were identified. In addition, suggested learning outcomes and resource lists were developed. Domains and individual competencies were mapped to six EPAs. This guideline presents a framework for teaching principles of laboratory quality management in veterinary clinical pathology residency training programs and was designed to be comprehensive yet practical. Guidance on pedagogical terms and possible routes of implementation are included. Recommendations herein aim to improve and support resident training but may require gradual implementation, as programs phase in necessary expertise and resources. Future directions include the development of learning milestones and assessments and consideration of how recommendations intersect with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists training program accreditation and certifying examination.

Does housing system affect horse welfare? The AWIN welfare assessment protocol applied to horses kept in an outdoor group-housing system: The 'parcours'.

Outdoor group housing is generally reported as being beneficial to the welfare of horses compared to single boxes, being considered to show greater similarities with the living conditions of feral horses, allowing full expression of behaviours such as grazing, social interactions and free movement. However, concerns persist regarding the ability to maintain a good nutritional state and the possibility of acquiring injury. No data reporting a comprehensive assessment of welfare for horses in outdoor group-housing systems are currently available. The present study aimed at applying a scientifically valid welfare assessment protocol to group-housed outdoor horses in 'parcours', a particular management system used in the south of France. 'Parcours' are semi-natural areas, grazed by domestic herbivores located in lowland, mountain, or marsh. One hundred and seventy-one horses older than a year pertaining to six farms and kept on 'parcours' were evaluated by a trained veterinarian using a modified version of the second level Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) welfare assessment protocol for horses. No major welfare issues were detected. Horses in 'parcours' displayed few abnormal behaviours, they could move freely for most of the day and interact with conspecifics, maintaining a healthy state of nutrition and a good relationship with humans. The main welfare concerns were related to the presence of superficial integument alterations such as alopecia, difficulty in reaching quality controlled water sources and a lack of shelter. As the number of facilities involved in this study is relatively limited, further harmonised data collection should aim to enlarge the sample size and allow comparison with different outdoor group-housing conditions.