Facial Recognition for Dogs?

Hello, Summarians!

AI is starting to touch all of our lives. The article on how it is practically being used in One Health applications is pretty exciting. Rabies prevention can be pretty tricky in developing nations and this discusses multiple strategies to make this a reality.

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Peri-Operative Fasting for Horses

The study focused on postanesthetic colic (PAC), a common complication in horses following general anesthesia, with an incidence of 3% to 11%. Traditionally, horses are fasted before anesthesia to reduce the risk of PAC and anesthetic complications, but there is no solid evidence supporting this practice. Recent findings suggest that fasting may actually increase the risk of colic and other adverse effects. 

The primary objective of this study was to compare manure output, anesthetic outcomes (such as hypoxemia and hypotension), water intake, and PAC development between fasted and nonfasted horses undergoing elective general anesthesia. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether muzzling fasted horses affected their water intake and manure production. The researchers hypothesized that fasting would decrease manure output, delay manure passage post-surgery, and increase PAC incidence without reducing anesthetic complications. They also hypothesized that muzzled, fasted horses would have reduced water intake and manure production compared to both nonfasted and fasted, nonmuzzled horses. 

The study divided horses into nonfasted (NF) and fasted groups, with the latter further split based on muzzling (FM). The results showed that nonfasted horses produced more manure and passed it sooner after surgery compared to fasted horses. The incidence of PAC was 0% in NF horses, while it was 13% in both fasted groups. Water intake remained similar across all groups, irrespective of muzzling, and there were no significant differences in anesthetic complications between groups. Muzzling did not significantly impact water intake or manure production. 

The study concluded that allowing horses free-choice hay perioperatively leads to better manure output without increasing anesthetic complications. The benefits may be due to enhanced colonic motility from the gastrocolic reflex or reduced stress from continuous access to feed. Despite some limitations, such as the lack of objective measures of gastrointestinal motility, the study's findings support the recommendation to avoid fasting horses before anesthesia to improve postoperative outcomes. Further research with more precise measures could help refine these recommendations. 

Barton, C. K., Hector, R. C., Hendrickson, D. A., Kawcak, C. E., Nelson, B. B., & Goodrich, L. R. (2024). Fasting horses perioperatively decreases manure production and increases time to manure output postoperatively: a controlled randomized trial. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.24.04.0235 

Bottom line — We may need to rethink standard recommendations.

Facial Recognition and Rabies Vax for Dogs

Washington State University (WSU) is making significant advancements in disease diagnosis and management through innovative technologies, addressing global One Health challenges. In the fight against rabies, WSU tested the Nobivac Rabies vaccine and found it to be thermotolerant, retaining its potency at 25 °C for six months or 30 °C for three months, suitable for areas with limited power. To facilitate long-term off-grid vaccine storage in Tanzania, WSU implemented the Zeepot, a clay pot-in-pot system that maintains internal temperatures below 25 °C even when ambient temperatures exceed 40 °C. Additionally, WSU developed a smartphone-based dog facial recognition app to improve vaccination tracking, achieving high predictive values and potential applications in other animal diseases and population management. 

In veterinary diagnostics, WSU has integrated digital pathology, allowing for faster and more efficient diagnostic reports. Collaborations within WSU and with the USDA have led to the development of AI algorithms to automate tasks such as reading chronic wasting disease surveillance slides and quantifying digital images of hair fibers. These advancements enhance diagnostic precision and efficiency, positioning WSU at the forefront of veterinary medicine by leveraging AI and digital technologies to improve health outcomes globally. 

Lankester, F., Broughton-Neiswanger, L. E., Holder, L. B., Driskell, R. R., & Lugelo, A. (2024). Harnessing hi-tech solutions to meet One Health challenges. American Journal of Veterinary Research https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.24.05.0131 

Bottom line — New strategies to help with rabies in developing countries.

High Cortisol Levels and Response to Chemotherapy

Multidrug chemotherapy with glucocorticoids is commonly used for treating dogs with lymphoma, but resistance can develop due to increased drug excretion via P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and decreased expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GCR). Elevated serum cortisol (COR) levels, often resulting from stress, aging, or chronic diseases, may also affect chemotherapy outcomes. This study aimed to compare the chemotherapy outcomes of dogs with normal and high serum COR concentrations and to investigate the association between COR levels and treatment efficacy. 

The study found that dogs with high COR levels had increased total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and adrenal gland thickness, suggesting that high COR concentrations were likely induced by stress, aging, or lymphoma. In these dogs, GCR-positive cell rates were significantly decreased, while P-gp rates showed no significant difference compared to dogs with normal COR levels. The study highlights that high COR concentrations correlate with decreased GCR expression, which may lead to poor treatment outcomes. 

The research faced limitations, including a small sample size, retrospective design, non-standardized treatment protocols, and breed-specific factors. Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that assessing serum COR concentrations could be important for developing effective treatment plans for dogs with lymphoma. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to explore the underlying mechanisms of COR concentration impacts on chemotherapy outcomes.  

 Yamazaki H, Bunbai K, Deguchi T, Tamura M, Ohota H. Comparison of chemotherapy outcomes between normal and high serum cortisol concentration in dogs with lymphoma. J Vet Intern Med. 2024; 38(3): 1651-1658. doi:10.1111/jvim.17044 

Bottom line — Something to consider but more study is needed.

Just putting things in perspective …