Frontiers in Veterinary Science最新文献

{"title":"Global prevalence and risk factors of bovine tuberculosis in cattle: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Aboudou Habirou Kifouly, Orléanse Kouin, Géorcelin Alowanou, Obase Ngemani Bekindaka, Pierre Challaton, Abdou Satar Akadiri, Abdou Fadel Samba, John Dossou, Gilles-Christ Akakpo, Cyrille Kodoéito Boko","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1820176","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1820176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by <i>Mycobacterium bovis</i>, is a chronic zoonotic disease of major global importance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where surveillance and control remain inadequate.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global prevalence of bTB, identify key risk factors, and evaluate diagnostic approaches to support evidence-based control strategies within a One Health framework.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was conducted across eight electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts, SpringerLink, and AJOL) for studies published between 1990 and October 2025. A total of 7,775 records were identified, of which 98 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative synthesis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The pooled global prevalence of bTB was estimated at 3.98% (95% CI, 3.94-4.03) and an overall herd's estimate was 18.48% (95% CI, 17.47-19.49). Meta-analysis revealed a significantly lower odds of infection at the animal level compared to herd level (OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.15-0.37; <i>p</i> < 0.00001; I<sup>2</sup> = 94%), indicating higher cumulative detection in herds. Subgroup analysis showed that Africa contributed the largest proportion of reported cases (61.22%), followed by Asia (30.61%), while other continents had marginal contributions. At regional level, Eastern Africa accounted for 41.84% of included studies, with Ethiopia representing the highest country-specific contribution (34.69%). Age-stratified analysis indicated higher prevalence in older cattle (≥5 years: 21.80%; 95% CI: 14.19-30.71) compared to younger animals (<5 years: 12.90%; 95% CI: 6.55-19.98), with borderline statistical significance (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.66-1.00; <i>p</i> = 0.05). Among diagnostic methods, tuberculin-based skin tests were most frequently used (42.86%), followed by molecular techniques (23.47%). Sample type analysis showed the highest detection rates in skin samples (41.84%), followed by blood (28.57%) and milk (14.29%). Breed-specific analysis revealed higher prevalence in Holstein cattle (30.08%) compared to indigenous zebus (9.08%), suggesting increased susceptibility in improved breeds. Despite generally symmetrical funnel plots indicating low publication bias, substantial heterogeneity was observed across analyses (I<sup>2</sup> > 75%), reflecting methodological and regional variability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Bovine tuberculosis remains a persistent and unevenly distributed zoonotic disease, with a disproportionate burden in Africa and Asia. The higher detection at herd level, significant influence of age and breed, and variability in diagnostic methods underscore the need for harmonized surveillance systems, improved diagnostic standardization, and targeted control strategies.</","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1820176"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic insights into <i>Solea solea</i> gut-borne <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> for the development of new probiotics in aquaculture.","authors":"Nadia Hussain, Fatima Muccee, Afreen Fatima Mirza, Naeem Mahmood Ashraf, Amal H I Al Haddad","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1778532","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1778532","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dietary manipulations using probiotics may contribute to the sustainable development of aquaculture. For probiotic applications, their traits, safety profiles, and functional characteristics should be explored. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) can be an informative tool in this regard. We initiated this study to obtain genomic insights into <i>S. solea</i> gut-associated bacteria. Bacteria (<i>n</i> = 20) exhibiting probiotic characteristics were subjected to DNA extraction. A mixture comprising equimolar concentrations of each bacterial DNA was prepared and analyzed through WGS. BV-BRC, metaSPAdes, MetaBAT2, DAS Tool, and PATRIC were used for taxonomic profiling, metagenome assembly, genome binning, comprehensive genome annotation, and subsystem analysis, respectively. For tree construction, MUSCLE and RaxML were employed. Fourteen bins comprising <i>Actinomycetota</i>, <i>Bacillota</i>, <i>Bacteroidota,</i> and <i>Pseudomonadota</i> were generated. Among these, the bin comprising the genome of <i>Enterococcus faecium</i> was selected. Its genome comprises 129 contigs with 2,944 coding sequences (CDSs). Genes associated with metabolism, protein processing, stress response, defense and virulence, cellular processes, and cell envelope were identified. Pathways identified included fatty acid and ketone body biosynthesis, glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and self-defense mechanisms. This study confirmed the probiotic efficiencies of <i>E. faecium</i>. Hence, this bacterium might be employed as a fish feed supplement in aquaculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1778532"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic effects of dietary RISCO-NUTRIFOUR probiotic on broiler performance, upregulation of intestinal immunoglobulin A and mucin-2 genes, enhancement of occludin expression, and downregulation of HSP70 under heat stress.","authors":"Abdulaziz A Al-Abdullatif, Maged A Al-Garadi, Mohammed M Qaid, Abdulkareem M Matar, Mohsen M Alobre, Mohammed A Al-Badwi, Elsayed O Hussein, Gamaleldin M Suliman","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1776015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1776015","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heat stress (HS) remains a major challenge in poultry production, negatively impacting performance, gut health, and immune function. This study investigated the synergistic effects of a novel probiotic solution, RISCO-NUTRIFOUR (RNFS), on growth performance, immune modulation, and intestinal barrier integrity in heat-stressed broilers. A total of 288 Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated to six dietary treatments, including RNFS at three inclusion levels [0.4, 0.2, and 0.1% \"(4, 2, and 1 L RNFS/ton feed)\"], 0.1% <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, 0.1% <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, and a negative control. Over a 42-day trial, RNFS supplementation improved (<i>p</i> < 0.05) average daily weight gain (ADWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and intestinal gene expression of immunoglobulin A (IgA), occludin, and claudin-1, while downregulating the heat shock protein HSP70. These improvements exhibited dose-dependent patterns, with productive performance indices improving at lower RNFS doses, while intestinal gene expression was enhanced at higher inclusion levels. No adverse effects were observed on lymphoid organ development or core metabolic indicators. RNFS also modulated serum lipid profiles favorably and demonstrated a robust antioxidant and immunomodulatory phytochemical profile. These findings highlight RNFS as a promising probiotic feed additive to mitigate HS and enhance gut health and productive performance in broilers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1776015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative analysis of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis reveals molecular mechanisms underlying sperm motility differences in Landes ganders.","authors":"Yanyan Liu, Fuqiang Chang, Biyu Zhang, Haidong Liu, Qian Shi, Haitao Diao, Meng Zhou, Shouqian Sang, Xiu Li, Qianqian Hu, Jing Li, Chongmei Ruan","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1809258","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1809258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to investigate the differences in semen quality between the high- and low-sperm motility group in Landes ganders, and to elucidate the regulatory role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis. Based on sperm motility values, the Landes ganders were divided into the high-sperm motility group (HSM, <i>n</i> = 3, 51.76 ± 2.53) and the low-sperm motility group (LSM, <i>n</i> = 3, 39.39 ± 2.52). Semen quality parameters, serum antioxidant indices, testosterone concentrations, and testicular histomorphology were assessed. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted on hypothalamic, pituitary, and testicular tissues to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Sperm concentration and motility were significantly higher in the HSM group compared with the LSM group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Ganders with low-sperm motility group exhibited increased serum malondialdehyde levels and decreased total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity (<i>p</i> < 0.01), along with reduced testosterone concentrations (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Histological examination revealed that HSM ganders displayed well-developed seminiferous tubules with larger diameters, increased germ cell layers, and abundant mature spermatozoa, whereas LSM ganders showed impaired spermatogenesis and reduced tubular development (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Key genes associated with spermatogenesis (<i>SPATA1</i>, <i>WT1</i>) and steroidogenesis (<i>3β-HSD</i>, <i>CYP11A1</i>, <i>CYP19A1</i>) were significantly upregulated in the HSM group. Transcriptomic profiling identified 1,189, 2,126, and 1,538 DEGs in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and testis, respectively. These DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to GnRH signaling, steroid hormone biosynthesis, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and Wnt signaling. Differences in sperm motility among Landes ganders are closely associated with antioxidant status, endocrine regulation, testicular development, and coordinated gene expression along the HPT axis. These findings provide mechanistic insights into spermatogenesis and offer a theoretical basis for improving reproductive performance in geese.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1809258"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of vitamin C on production performance, rumen fermentation, and blood antioxidant indices in heat-stressed Holstein dairy cows.","authors":"Hongsheng Du, Mengen Zhang, Guoqiang Ma, Yingli Li, Ke Zhou, Guodong Li, Fei Xie, Rubing Lan, Dian Wang","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1696533","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1696533","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heat stress exerts severe detrimental effects on lactation performance, rumen health, and antioxidant status in dairy cows, inflicting substantial economic losses on the global dairy industry. This study investigated the effects of dietary Vitamin C-2-phosphate supplementation on lactation performance, rumen fermentation, and serum antioxidant parameters in heat-stressed Holstein cows. Thirty multiparous Holstein cows (659.6 ± 18.4 kg body weight, 2.83 ± 0.65 parity, 93.3 ± 9.3 days in milk, 44 ± 4.3 kg/d milk yield) were randomly allocated to three groups (<i>n</i> = 10) using a randomized complete block design: control (CON, basal diet), low-dose Vitamin C-2-phosphate (LVC, basal diet + 20 g/head/d Vitamin C-2-phosphate), and high- dose Vitamin C-2-phosphate (HVC, basal diet + 40 g/head/d Vitamin C-2-phosphate). The 42-day trial consisted of a 7-day adaptation period and a 35-day experimental period, with an average temperature-humidity index (THI) of 77.86. Results showed that Vitamin C-2-phosphate supplementation significantly increased ruminal total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) and acetate concentrations, energy-corrected milk (ECM) yield, milk protein concentration, and milk protein yield (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while decreasing ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentration and milk somatic cell count (SCC) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, Vitamin C-2-phosphate supplementation reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) levels and enhanced total antioxidant capacity (T- AOC) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary Vitamin C-2-phosphate effectively improves rumen fermentation, alleviates oxidative stress, enhances lactation performance, and promotes mammary gland health in heat-stressed Holstein cows. The 40 g/head/d dosage yielded the most favorable effects among the tested levels. Future studies should determine the optimal Vitamin C-2-phosphate inclusion levels under different heat stress intensities and physiological stages of production, and explore its synergistic effects with other functional additives.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1696533"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143655/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of dietary rumen-degradable protein on growth performance, nitrogen metabolism, and rumen microbiome in dairy buffalo heifers.","authors":"Qingfeng Tang, Dongwen Qiu, Chongli Wen, Zeming Bu, Yali Huang, Caixia Zou, Haoyi Wu, Fuchang Chen, Lin Liu, Zhonghao Li, Xiaoling Xie, Haoting Huang, Kaiwen Gan, Yiting Liu","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1806578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1806578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Buffaloes are globally important dairy animals, but their low feed nitrogen utilization efficiency and excessive dietary rumen-degradable protein (RDP) results in aggravated nitrogen pollution and high breeding costs. Studies on the optimal RDP levels for 7-10-month-old dairy buffalo heifers remain scarce, limiting precise nutritional management.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Dairy buffalo heifers (<i>n</i> = 36, 7-10-month-old, 193.39 ± 4.10 kg) were selected, and randomly assigned to six groups (<i>n</i> = 6 heifers/group, with one heifer in each replicate; Dietary RDP: 60.85-88.90 g/kg). The 73-day trial (15-day adaptation) included measurements of growth performance, nitrogen metabolism, serum indices, rumen parameters, and microbiome (16S rRNA/ITS sequencing).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>(1) No differences in initial/final body weight or dry matter intake were found among the groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The low-RDP group (LP-1, 67.31 g/kg) had the highest average daily gain (0.79 kg/d) and lowest feed-to-gain ratio (7.88) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (2) With a decrease in dietary RDP levels, intake nitrogen (IN), urinary nitrogen (UN), digested nitrogen, and UN /IN efficiency decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The low-RDP group (LP-1) had the highest retention nitrogen/IN efficiency (32.31%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (3) The serum total protein and urea levels decreased with decreasing dietary RDP levels (lowest in LP-2: 64.52 g/L and 5.15 mmol/L, <i>p</i> < 0.05), with no differences in liver or kidney function or glucose-lipid metabolism (<i>p</i> > 0.05). (4) LP-1 had the highest rumen total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and butyrate levels (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while rumen pH and NH₃-N decreased with RDP (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (5) Dietary RDP levels significantly altered the rumen microbial structure. <i>Pichia</i> in LP-1 was 28.81-fold and 39.68-fold higher than in HP-1 and MP-1 groups, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.05), along with the presence of group-specific taxa.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>An optimal dietary RDP level for 7-10-month-old dairy buffalo heifers was 67.31 g/kg, which improved the ADG and nitrogen utilization efficiency without compromising health, while also altering the rumen microbial structure. Therefore, when formulating diets for buffaloes, it is advisable to consider to note only meet the DCP requirements but also appropriately regulate the dietary RDP levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1806578"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Complete blood count-derived inflammatory markers in canine cerebrovascular accidents: diagnostic utility and prognostic implications.","authors":"Seungkuk Oh, SeJung An, Yeon-Jung Hong, DoHyeon Yu, Jinho Park","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1719067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1719067","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is an under-recognized cause of acute neurological dysfunction in dogs. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) supports diagnosis, the limited access and overlapping imaging features complicate its interpretation. Blood-based inflammatory indices such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have shown diagnostic and prognostic value in human stroke; however, their clinical relevance in canine CVA has not been validated.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of the NLR and SII in dogs with MRI-confirmed CVA compared to healthy controls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventeen dogs with CVA and 20 healthy controls were analyzed retrospectively. The NLR and SII were calculated from complete blood counts at presentation. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Canine Functional Stroke Score (CFSS₀, CFSS₃₀). Associations with 30-day survival were analyzed between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dogs with CVA had significantly higher NLR and SII values than healthy controls. The receiver operating characteristic curves yielded areas under the curves of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68-0.96) for NLR and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.71-0.99) for SII. The optimal cutoffs determined by the Youden index were 3.92 for NLR (sensitivity 70.6%, specificity 90.0%) and 1,352 for SII (sensitivity 76.5%, specificity 90.0%). Both markers were moderately correlated with poorer 30-day recovery. The SII was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. Baseline CFSS was not significantly correlated with the degree of functional improvement but was significantly higher in non-survivors. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, neither the NLR nor the SII were significantly associated with survival. Although individual predictors did not reach statistical significance, the overall model demonstrated a significant association with 30-day survival. In the dichotomized analysis, the SII model demonstrated an improved model fit for predicting mortality, whereas the NLR model showed a poorer fit. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the high-SII group had lower survival rates than the low-SII group, while no significant difference in survival was observed between the NLR groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>NLR and SII may help differentiate dogs with CVA from healthy dogs and reflect clinical outcomes. The SII also shows potential prognostic value for short-term survival.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1719067"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144770/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147836734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CSF-net: a color space fusion network with self-attention-driven feature learning for feline ocular diseases classification.","authors":"Dhivyaa S P, Myungeun Lee, Hyung-Jeong Yang","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1826139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1826139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Feline ocular diseases can cause irreversible vision loss if they are not detected early. However, early diagnosis is often difficult. This is due to limited access to veterinary ophthalmology services and the challenge of distinguishing between visually similar eye conditions. Illumination changes, glare, and strong visual similarity among diseases substantially limit the performance of conventional RGB-based classification models. This paper proposes the Color Space Fusion Network (CSF-Net), an attention-guided color interaction framework for robust feline ocular disease classification in real-world environments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CSF-Net decomposes images into complementary color spaces (RGB, HSV, and YCbCr), learns independent feature representations, and applies a self-attention mechanism to emphasize disease-relevant visual cues while reducing sensitivity to environmental variations. The proposed method is evaluated on a large-scale dataset of 16,480 feline ocular images and compared with representative deep learning models, including ResNet50, EfficientNet, and ViT/16-b.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CSF-Net achieves superior performance, reaching an accuracy of 83.05% and achieved a mean fold-wise macro-AUC of 0.9690 across five cross-validation folds. Ablation and class-wise analyses confirm the effectiveness of self-attention in leveraging multi-color representations, while also revealing limitations for eyelid-centered conditions such as blepharitis. A mobile-based preliminary screening application, PurrfectEyes, is further presented to demonstrate practical applicability.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Overall, this work introduces an attention-guided multi-color framework that improves robustness and interpretability for AI-assisted feline ocular disease screening in real-world settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1826139"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143524/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Curriculum framework for artificial intelligence literacy in veterinary education.","authors":"Yi-Ting Huang, Candice P Chu","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1801756","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1801756","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving technology increasingly incorporated into veterinary medicine. Given the demand for AI integration and the accountability placed on licensed veterinarians for AI-assisted medical decisions, there is an urgent need to integrate AI literacy into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum in the United States. Here, we proposed five core modules for a comprehensive AI literacy curriculum for DVM students that can serve as a foundation for institution-specific course development. We also urge institutions to provide the resources outlined in this article to facilitate the development of AI literacy courses in veterinary schools.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1801756"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143618/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of ear disease in small-breed dogs undergoing cone-beam computed tomography for dental procedures.","authors":"Mahdi Haghighat, Georgia Mackay Burden, Hannah F Boothe, Mary Krakowski Volker, Jason P Hutt, Jennifer Tjepkema, Adrien-Maxence Hespel","doi":"10.3389/fvets.2026.1822570","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2026.1822570","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Following periodontal disease, ear disease is one of the most frequently reported diseases in dogs. Ear disease often remains undiagnosed due to the vague or absent nature of its clinical signs. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), now widely used in the specialty of veterinary dentistry, enables concurrent assessment of ear structures during comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT). This study evaluated the prevalence of ear disease in small-breed dogs undergoing CBCT during COHAT procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Dogs over 1 year of age and under 25.5 lbs. (~11.5 kg) that underwent CBCT as part of COHAT were prospectively enrolled and cross-sectionally evaluated. Imaging was reviewed for evidence of external, middle, and inner ear disease. Periodontal disease and tooth resorption were recorded to assess for potential associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ear disease was diagnosed in 151/352 dogs (42.6%), predominantly involving the external ear canal (148 dogs). Thirty dogs had middle ear involvement, and three dogs had inner ear disease; some dogs had ear disease in multiple otic compartments. These findings exceeded previously reported clinical prevalence estimates of ear disease in dogs. No significant association was identified between CBCT-diagnosed ear disease and either periodontal disease or tooth resorption.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>CBCT identified ear disease in nearly half of the evaluated dogs. Although no meaningful association was found between ear disease and dental pathology, these findings highlight the diagnostic value of CBCT beyond oral health evaluation in dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12772,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Veterinary Science","volume":"13 ","pages":"1822570"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13143785/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147837070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}