What if we could detect disease before it manifested itself? While it may appear to be fantasy, it is currently being used in human and animal health by combining advanced computing power with artificial intelligence (AI). Machine learning (ML), a subfield of AI, is a recent approach for developing predictions in many areas of medical science through classification and regression. Using ML to solve veterinary data problems is still unusual. It can aid in farm decision-making processes. ML outperformed statistical models in disease prediction, which produce a high bias in most cases and reduce model reliability when assumptions are violated. Some challenges of ML, such as data size, algorithm tunability, and feature selection, must be considered in order to develop a good predictive model. This review aimed to discuss the role of ML in solving veterinary problems and spotting the light on overcoming the possible challenges, and to encourage the researchers to increase the application of ML over conventional methods.

Newcastle disease (ND) outbreaks have been occurred in the Egyptian poultry causing high mortalities with severe economic losses. NDV infection of genotype VII has been reported to cause outbreaks in several commercial poultry farms in Egypt. In the present study, NDV was isolated from 6 broiler chicken flocks in Sharkia province suffering from respiratory and/or neurological signs into the allantoic sac of 11-day-old commercial embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs) as well as these isolates were subjected to reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Six isolates (one NDV isolate/each flock) were sequenced to characterize their whole fusion (F) protein gene of NDV. The sequence analysis and phylogenetic study of the six isolates revealed that they were velogenic, belonging to the class II subgenotype NDV VIId with the characteristic amino acid sequences of the F0 protein proteolytic cleavage site motifs (112-RRQKRF-117). As well as the nucleotide blast analysis showed 97.4% - 98.6% nucleotide identity to virulent NDV isolated in Egypt and neighboring countries. On the other hand, the nucleotide blast analysis showed 82.3% - 83% nucleotide identity to reference commercially available vaccine strains. This genetic variation between the commercially available vaccine strains and six studied NDV strains during 2021 may clarify the failure of the currently used vaccines to protect chicken against vNDV subgenotype VIId. Further studies are needed to monitor the protection of the currently used vaccines against recently isolated vNDV strains.

Because of the growing dangers of viral infections, the use of herbal plant oils is gaining popularity among medical practitioners and large-scale livestock producers. Several studies have shown that herbal extracts could be used as an antiviral agent in animal feed or as a prophylaxis and remedy. Herbs, in addition to being a less expensive and safer alternative, may reduce the incidence of drug resistance and may modulate the immune system in the prevention of viral-related diseases. The main topic of this review is to focus on the antiviral and immunomodulatory potentials of thyme vulgaris and Ginseng, as well as their bioactive chemical components. The beneficial roles of the two herbaceous plant and their extracts upon avian viruses proofed in many earlier reports. Hence, the two herbs could have immune stimulant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits as well as adjuvant effects with poultry vaccines.

Rabbit meat and offal are considered as valuable sources of high biological value animal protein. Rabbit meat is rich in essential amino acids, low in cholesterol and contains considerable amounts of trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc. However, rabbit meat is also implicated in the transmission of foodborne pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., E. coli, and Pseudomonas spp. Few reports had reviewed the microbiological quality of rabbit meat either worldwide or in Egypt. In this review, we will summarize the available literature about the microbiological status of rabbit meat and offal. Moreover, the potential human health risks associated with the occurrence of such foodborne pathogens in rabbit meat, and their effect on the shelf life of meat will be discussed. In addition, suggestions on how to improve the microbiological quality of rabbit meat and to extend its shelf life will also be introduced.

A 10-year-old, spayed female, Doberman Pinscher dog presented with right forelimb lameness. On physical examination, painful reaction and crepitation were present at the right shoulder. Radiographic evaluation of the shoulder revealed nothing remarkable. On the ultrasonography of the right shoulder joint, 2 small echogenic masses accompanied by reverberation artifacts were observed in the right biceps tendon near its origin at the supraglenoid tuberosity. Based on these findings, we suspected biceps calcifying tendinopathy. Clinical signs resolved intermittently after administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This study described the ultrasonographic findings of calcifying biceps brachii tendinopathy which is an unusual finding in dogs.

Many countries have imposed regulations relating to concerns that hide contamination will affect the cleanliness of abattoirs. However, South Korea has not indicated any clear criteria. The purpose of this study is to use surrogate bacteria to measure the contamination in abattoirs caused by contaminated cattle hides. The swab contact method and plate count method are used. Surrogate bacteria are found in most internal environments after the final process. These surrogates remained on the carcass even after the final washing process. This paper is the first study in South Korea that use surrogate bacteria to analyze contamination levels in abattoirs.

A 7-year-old Scottish Straight cat presented with hypersalivation and generalized hyperesthesia. The cat was provided tuna-based food for 2 to 3 weeks before clinical symptoms appeared. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a heterogeneous, hyperechoic mesentery with hypoechoic foci. Pansteatitis was tentatively diagnosed and the cat was treated with vitamin E, anti-inflammatory drugs, and dietary changes. The clinical signs and changes in mesenteric fat on serial ultrasonography resolved. After feeding tuna-based food again, the same clinical signs and mesenteric changes on ultrasound recurred, which recovered through the same treatment. This study suggests that ultrasonography can be useful for diagnosis and monitoring of feline pansteatitis.

A captive female capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) of unknown age discharged a bloody mass from the vaginal region. A histopathology examination revealed the mass to be a reproductive leiomyosarcoma, and an ovariohysterectomy was performed. The histopathology examination confirmed that the excised tissue was a uterine leiomyosarcoma. The purpose of this report is to describe clinical history and histopathological diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma in capybaras. This report is novel because it describes the first diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma in a capybara. Since clinical data about capybaras are rare, this case report will help to diagnosis and treat reproductive diseases of this species.

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive and behavioral disorders and reduces the quality of life in dogs and their guardians. This study reviewed the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for CDS and compared the diagnosis and therapy of CAM between CDS in canines and dementia in humans. The evaluation tools for the diagnosis of CDS and dementia were similar in the neurological and neuropsychiatric examinations, daily life activity, cognitive tests, and neuroimaging, but the evaluation for dementia was further subdivided. In CAM, pattern identification is a diagnostic method for accurate, personalized treatment, such as herbal medicine. For herbal medicine treatment of cognitive impairment in canines and humans, a similar pattern identification classified as deficiency (Qi, blood, and Yin) and Excess (phlegm, Qi stagnation, and blood stasis) is being used. However, the veterinary clinical basis for verifying the efficacy and safety of CAM therapies for CDS is limited. Therefore, based on CAM evidence in dementia, it is necessary to establish CDS-targeted CAM diagnostic methods and therapeutic techniques considering the anatomical, physiological, and pathological characteristics of dogs.

Incidences of major feline viral diseases provide basic information for preventing viral disease in cats. Despite the growing interest in feline viral diseases, sero-surveillances have been lacking. In this study, we analyzed the diagnoses of feline viral diseases and conducted a sero surveillance of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) in Korean cats. Of the 204 confirmed cases since 2015, the numbers of diagnoses for FPV, FIPV, FCV, feline influenza virus, and FHV-1 were 156, 32, 12, 3, and 1 case, respectively. In total, 200 sera, collected between 2019 and 2021, were screened for the presence of antibodies against FPV, 2 FCVs, FHV-1, and FIPV using a hemagglutination inhibition test and a virus-neutralizing assay (VNA). The overall seropositive rates in cats tested for FPV, the 2 FCVs, FHV-1, and FIPV were 92.5%. 42.0%, 37.0%, 52.0%, and 14.0%, respectively. A low correlation (r = 0.466) was detected between the VNA titers of 2 FCV strains. The highest incidence and seropositive rate of FPV reveal that FPV is circulating in Korean cats. The low r-value between 2 FCVs suggests that a new feline vaccine containing the 2 kinds of FCVs is required.