Search Results (5,160)

The use of a pretrained image classification model (trained on cats and dogs, for example) as a perceptual loss function for hyperspectral super-resolution and pansharpening tasks is surprisingly effective. However, RGB-based networks do not take full advantage of the spectral information in hyperspectral data. This inspired the creation of HyperKon, a dedicated hyperspectral Convolutional Neural Network backbone built with self-supervised contrastive representation learning. HyperKon uniquely leverages the high spectral continuity, range, and resolution of hyperspectral data through a spectral attention mechanism. We also perform a thorough ablation study on different kinds of layers, showing their performance in understanding hyperspectral layers. Notably, HyperKon achieves a remarkable 98% Top-1 retrieval accuracy and surpasses traditional RGB-trained backbones in both pansharpening and image classification tasks. These results highlight the potential of hyperspectral-native backbones and herald a paradigm shift in hyperspectral image analysis. Full article

Pathogenic Leptospira spp. causes leptospirosis in animals and humans globally, leading to systemic infections that can impact vital organs in affected animals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate kidney injury and to perform a retrospective analysis of leptospirosis infection in follow-up dog samples. The retrospective study collected epidemiological information obtained through paraclinical exams, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and molecular biology (qPCR) of cases from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine from Timisoara between September 2016 and May 2023. No correlations were found between Leptospira infection and breed (p = 0.714), gender or castration status (p = 0.890), and anatomic pathology exam results (p = 0.608). Significant associations were found in cases with high levels of azotemia (p = 0.000) and immunological status (vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, p = 0.000), with the leptospirosis risk in unvaccinated animals calculated at OR = 85.500 (95%CI, 6.82–1071.26, p = 0.000). Retrospectively, leptospirosis was diagnosed in 27/65 cases (42%) using the IHC method, while the qPCR assay detected 29/65 cases (45%). This study demonstrates that qPCR is a robust and specific method for postmortem diagnosis of Leptospira spp. infection in dogs, offering higher specificity and reliability compared to traditional IHC methods, which showed 94.74% specificity in our study. Full article

Canine paraplegia is a common condition in small animal medicine, referred to as Wei Syndrome (WS) in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). Common clinical manifestations encompass hind limb paralysis, motor dysfunction, muscle atrophy, and the absence of pain perception. WS is considered a difficult-to-treat disease in small animal practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of canine WS and the characteristics of hemorheology. A total of 53 dogs with WS and 53 healthy dogs were included in this study. A retrospective case-controlled study design was employed. Data regarding the gender, season of WS occurrence, breed, and age of dogs with WS, as well as hemorheology from dogs with WS and healthy dogs, were collected and analyzed using SPSS 27.0. The study findings revealed that male dogs were more susceptible to WS (77.36%, 41/53). WS cases occurred more frequently in Winter (33.96%, 18/53), and were commonly found in Poodle breeds (43.40%, 23/53). The most affected age of WS was between 3 and 6 years old (54.72%, 29/53). Except for plasma viscosity and fibrinogen, the hemorheology indices of canine WS were significantly higher than those of healthy dogs (p < 0.05), especially in male dogs, Poodles and Bulldogs, those between 3 to 10 years, and in Autumn and Winter. This study provides evidence that male Poodles and Bulldogs aged 3 to 6 years are more prone to developing WS, with Winter being the season of high disease incidence. Abnormal hemorheology is a characteristic feature in dogs with WS, which should be considered during the treatment of WS. Full article

Domestication of dogs from their shared ancestors with wolves occurred more than 15,000 years ago and affected many characteristics of the species. We analyzed the blood RNA sequence data of 12 dogs and 11 wolves from Europe and Asia to shed more light on the domestication history of dogs. We implemented a differential gene expression analysis, a weighted gene correlation network analysis, gene ontology and genetic pathway analyses. We found that both the sample origin (Europe or Asia) and the species had a significant effect on the blood gene expression profiles of the animals. We identified 1567 differentially expressed genes between wolves and dogs and found several significantly overrepresented gene ontology terms, such as RNA polymerase II transcription regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding or translation. We identified 11 significant gene co-expression networks, hosting a total of 4402 genes, related to DNA replication, metabolism of RNA or metabolism of proteins, for example. Our findings suggest that gene expression regulation played a cardinal role in dog domestication. We recommend further diversifying the analyzed dog and wolf populations in the future by including individuals from different dog breeds and geographical origins, in order to enhance the specificity of detecting significant, true positive genes related to domestication as well as to reduce the false positive rate. Full article

There has been a recent increase in the frequency of mass disaster events. Following these events, the rapid location of victims is paramount. Currently, the most reliable search method is scent detection dogs, which use their sense of smell to locate victims accurately and efficiently. Despite their efficacy, they have limited working times, can give false positive responses, and involve high costs. Therefore, alternative methods for detecting volatile compounds are needed, such as using electronic noses (e-noses). An e-nose named the ‘NOS.E’ was developed and has been used successfully to detect VOCs released from human remains in an open-air environment. However, the system’s full capabilities are currently unknown, and therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the NOS.E to determine the efficacy of detection and expected sensor response. This was achieved using analytical standards representative of known human ante-mortem and decomposition VOCs. Standards were air diluted in Tedlar gas sampling bags and sampled using the NOS.E. This study concluded that the e-nose could detect and differentiate a range of VOCs prevalent in ante-mortem and decomposition VOC profiles, with an average LOD of 7.9 ppm, across a range of different chemical classes. The NOS.E was then utilized in a simulated mass disaster scenario using donated human cadavers, where the system showed a significant difference between the known human donor and control samples from day 3 post-mortem. Overall, the NOS.E was advantageous: the system had low detection limits while offering portability, shorter sampling times, and lower costs than dogs and benchtop analytical instruments. Full article

Background: WHO and WOAH advocate for annual high-coverage canine rabies vaccination campaigns as the most sustainable approach to eliminate the risk of dog rabies transmission to humans. It is estimated that Cambodia has one of the highest human rabies deaths per capita of any country (5.8 human deaths per 100,000 people), highlighting the urgent need to implement an effective canine rabies vaccination program. To this end, a coalition of government and non-government organizations conducted a pioneering short-duration dog rabies vaccination campaign over 10 days across Phnom Penh and Kandal Provinces in May 2023. Methods: Over 10 working days, 120 vaccination teams, each consisting of two vaccinators and one tuk-tuk driver, traveled door-to-door to deliver parenteral rabies vaccines to all dogs that could be held by the teams or members of the community. Spatial team management and data collection were conducted through the WVS Data Collection Application. Results: A total of 74,983 dogs were vaccinated, giving a mean vaccination rate of 62.5 dogs per team per day. An additional 2145 cats were vaccinated. Of all dogs encountered by the teams, 84.0% could be vaccinated, with 99.1% of those being identified as owned. Post-vaccination surveys of 4356 households estimated a mean vaccination coverage of 70.7% in owned dogs across the districts of Phnom Penh Province. Conclusion: Short-duration, large-scale canine rabies vaccination campaigns can achieve high vaccination coverage using a door-to-door approach in urban centers of Cambodia. Data gathered through the campaign yielded insights to support the refinement and planning of a wider rabies control strategy and is anticipated to drive further support for subsequent campaigns in Cambodia. Full article

Plant extracts, derived from various natural sources, encompass primary and secondary metabolites, which include plant polysaccharides, polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenes, and volatile oils. These compounds exhibit a range of biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial functions. Currently, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds are being incorporated into the diets of farm animals, fish, and pets to promote health benefits. Despite this, the application and potential of plant extracts in canine and feline nutrition have not been comprehensively explored. Many aspects of the mechanisms underlying the action of these plant metabolites remain to be analyzed and elucidated. Furthermore, leveraging natural plant extracts for the treatment of clinical conditions in dogs and cats is a crucial component of clinical nutrition. Consequently, this review aims to highlight the impact of plant extracts on overall health, gastrointestinal health, immune health, cardiovascular health, redox balance, and pathology in dogs and cats. Full article

Several authors have advocated for the role of physiotherapy in canine intervertebral disc extrusion, and it is routinely recommended by various veterinary neurologists. However, veterinary literature does not unanimously support the routine use of physiotherapy to ensure an increase in locomotor return in dogs with IVDE. The aim of the study was to investigate whether physiotherapy can influence the functional recovery of paraplegic dogs with loss of nociception (LN) affected by thoracolumbar IVDE (Hansen type I) and treated surgically. The animals were divided into two groups: the physiotherapy group (PG), which included those that underwent decompressive surgery and postoperative physiotherapy; and the control group (CG), which included dogs that did not undergo any physiotherapy after surgery. A total of 51 dogs were included, with 30 in the PG and 21 in the CG. The number of physiotherapy sessions ranged from 6 to 60. The rate of functional recovery in dogs within 21 days postoperatively (PO) was 10% (3/30) in the PG and 19% (4/21) in the CG. After 21 days PO, the recovery rate was 43.33% (13/30) in the PG and 61.9% (13/21) in the CG, with no significant difference observed between the groups (p = 0.258). Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that physiotherapy in paraplegic dogs with LN due to thoracolumbar IVDE does not appear to influence functional recovery compared to the group without physiotherapy. Full article

Hybrid neural networks (HNNs), integrating the strengths of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and spiking neural networks (SNNs), provide a promising solution towards generic artificial intelligence. There is a prevailing trend towards designing unified SNN-ANN paradigm neuromorphic computing chips to support HNNs, but developing platforms to advance neuromorphic computing systems is equally essential. This paper presents the PAIBoard platform, which is designed to facilitate the implementation of HNNs. The platform comprises three main components: the upper computer, the communication module, and the neuromorphic computing chip. Both hardware and software performance measurements indicate that our platform achieves low power consumption, high energy efficiency and comparable task accuracy. Furthermore, PAIBoard is applied in a robot dog for tracking and obstacle avoidance system. The tracking module combines data from ultra-wide band (UWB) transceivers and vision, while the obstacle avoidance module utilizes depth information from an RGB-D camera, which further underscores the potential of our platform to tackle challenging tasks in real-world applications. Full article

A 6-year-old castrated male mixed dog presented with a rapidly growing mass at the right chest wall two weeks after initial detection. A mesenchymal origin of the malignancy was suspected based on fine-needle aspiration. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that the mass originated from the right chest wall and protruded externally (6.74 × 5.51 × 4.13 cm³) and internally (1.82 × 1.69 × 1.50 cm³). The patient revisited the hospital because of breathing difficulties. Radiography confirmed pleural effusion, and ultrasonography-guided thoracocentesis was performed. The effusion was hemorrhagic, and microscopic evaluation showed no malignant cells. Before surgery, CT without anesthesia was performed to evaluate the status of the patient. The 7–10th ribs were en bloc resected at a 3-cm margin dorsally and ventrally, and two ribs cranially and caudally from the mass. After recovering the collapsed right middle lobe of the lung due to compression from the internal mass with positive-pressure ventilation, a 3D-printed bone model contoured titanium mesh was tied to each covering rib and surrounding muscles using 2-0 blue nylon and closed routinely. The thoracic cavity was successfully reconstructed, and no flail chest was observed. The patient was histo-pathologically diagnosed with extraskeletal osteosarcoma. A CT scan performed 8 months after surgery showed no evident recurrence, metastasis, or implant failure. This is the first case report of chest wall reconstruction using titanium mesh in a dog. The use of a titanium mesh allows for the reconstruction of extensive chest wall defects, regardless of location, without major postoperative complications. Full article

Livestock farming has been a practice of great importance for the evolution of civilization, not only influencing social, economic, and cultural aspects at a global level, but also food, the economy, and sustainability, especially in developing countries, where it generates significant pressure on natural resources and biodiversity. In this context, conflict arises between wildlife, mainly top predators, and livestock farmers. Despite the efforts of different communities to implement measures against predation, the conflict continues to increase. In Latin America, the livestock sector is growing at a much higher rate than in the rest of the world, particularly in Chile, where around a third of agricultural production units use livestock as their main source of livelihood. To understand the factors influencing the behavior of goat farmers when adopting measures, we applied a hurdle model with social, spatial, economic, and productive information to assess the decision to adopt measures and the intensity of the adoption of such practices. To perform this, we used data from a survey, administered in 2014 to 476 farmers located in the three provinces of the Coquimbo Region. Our dependent variable was defined by six measures: a protection dog, night confinement of the herd, supervised grazing, anti-carnivore corral, the death or capture of the predator, and repelling the predator. The adoption decision, as well as the intensity of adoption, were influenced by the location, household size, the type of livestock, the income generated by the livestock, health management, and access to technical advice. The decision to adopt measures was influenced by the production system and whether it was self-sustaining, while the intensity of adoption was influenced by herd size and the number of losses due to predation. The results showed the importance of developing and adjusting livestock support initiatives in the study area, including those that could be created, based on differentiated measures according to the profiles of farmers in the territory. Full article

Selecting a dog that is incompatible with the owner’s expectations can negatively impact both parties. Previous studies on dog acquisition have primarily focused on shelter environments, using closed-ended questions to assess hypothetical preferences. In contrast, our study employed open-ended questions with a convenience sample of Austrian dog owners (N = 1077) to retrospectively explore why the owners chose their dogs. We also examined consistency in owners’ responses and the influence of owner characteristics (age, education, household composition, previous dog experience, purpose of acquisition) on their reasons. Content analysis revealed 24 codes; the frequency of codes was 2.4/response. The most frequent codes were breed-based choice (29%), choosing on a whim, without careful consideration (24%), work/sport skills (22%), and rescuing a dog (17%). The least frequent were the age (1%), health (1%), sex (1%), and guarding skills (0.6%) of the dog. Twelve codes were consistent over time, and ten were consistent across dogs, indicating that the owners showed a consistent preference for certain traits. Except for the owner’s education level, all characteristics affected the likelihood of mentioning at least one code. Most associations were found with the presence of children in the household: owners with children preferred friendly, easily manageable, and easy-to-train dogs and were less likely to adopt or rescue compared to owners living without children. Our findings also highlight discrepancies between spontaneous (free-text) reports and responses to closed-ended questions, underscoring the importance of qualitative data in better understanding the motivations behind and the factors influencing dog acquisition. Full article

Background: Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia conorii subsp. conorii, primarily prevalent in Mediterranean and Southern Europe. We aimed to evaluate MSF seroprevalence and risk factors in non-endemic rural areas of Romania. Methods: We conducted a serosurvey in five counties not under MSF surveillance by testing 459 serum samples from adult volunteers for specific IgG antibodies using ELISA. Participants answered a questionnaire regarding demographics and MSF risk factors. Results: The median age of the participants was 60 years and 329 (71.7%) were female. Overall, 64 (13.9%) samples tested positive for IgG anti-R. conorii, with rates ranging from 7.1% in Sibiu to 22.4% in Hunedoara. The median age of the positive individuals was 68 years, with a significantly higher seropositivity rate of 54.7% among those over 65 years (p = 0.01). Among those positive, 53 (82.8%) owned different household animals; 24 (37.5%) had daily contact with dogs, and 27 (42.2%) with livestock; 17 (26.6%) noted tick infestations of animals, and 23 (35.9%) reported tick bites. Conclusions: This study revealed an important seroprevalence of MSF in Romanian areas considered non-endemic, indicating an expansion of its geographical range, probably due to climate change, and emphasizing the importance of enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capabilities nationwide. Full article

Controversy surrounds the efficacy and welfare implications of different forms of dog training with several studies asserting that electronic shock collars have negative welfare impacts while not being more effective than non-aversive methods. However, these studies did not specify the schedule and intensity of punishment used or the effectiveness of the training method. In the current study, we attempted to train dogs across six sessions to desist from chasing a fast-moving lure in one of three randomly assigned conditions and then tested for retention and generalization in four further test trials. Group A was trained with e-collars; Group B was trained with non-aversive methods and the lure moving as with Group A; and Group C was trained as for Group B but with the lure initially moving slowly before its speed was progressively increased. All dogs in Group A stopped running towards the lure after one or two sessions, and none chased the lure in the first three tests: 67% of these dogs chased the lure in the final test in a novel arena. None of the dogs in the either Group B or C successfully refrained from chasing the moving lure in training or any test. Video behavior coding indicated few stress-related behaviors across the training groups. Full article

Recently, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has emerged as a therapeutic target of interest for non-small-cell lung cancer in humans. The role of HER2 in canine pulmonary adenocarcinomas is poorly documented. To address this gap, this study employed three methodologies: immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the protein expression, gene amplification, and mutation of HER2 in 19 canine primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas. By IHC, 3 out of 19 cases were overexpressed 3+, 6 were 2+, and 10 were negative. With FISH, 2 cases were amplified (12.5%), 3 were inadequate for the analyses, and the others were non-amplified. With NGS, seven cases were inadequate. All other cases were wild-type, except for one IHC 3+ case, which was amplified with FISH and with a specific mutation already described in human pulmonary adenocarcinoma, V659E. This mutation is probably sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitory drugs. These results are similar to those in human medicine and to the few data in the literature on canine lung carcinomas; the presence of 12.5% of amplified cases in dogs lays the foundation for future targeted drugs against HER2 alterations. Full article