The groundbreaking impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence in sheep farming

The integration of digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has marked the onset of a new era of efficient sheep farming in multiple aspects ranging from the general well-being of sheep to advanced web-based management applications. The resultant improvement in sheep health and consequently better farming yield has already started to benefit both farmers and veterinarians. The predictive analytical models embedded with machine learning (giving sense to machines) has helped better decision-making and has enabled farmers to derive most out of their farms. This is evident in the ability of farmers to remotely monitor livestock health by wearable devices that keep track of animal vital signs and behaviour. Additionally, veterinarians now employ advanced AI-based diagnostics for efficient parasite detection and control. Overall, digitalization and AI have completely transformed traditional farming practices in livestock animals. However, there is a pressing need to optimize digital sheep farming, allowing sheep farmers to appreciate and adopt these innovative systems. To fill this gap, this review aims to provide available digital and AI-based systems designed to aid precision farming of sheep, offering an up-to-date understanding on the subject. Various contemporary techniques, such as sky shepherding, virtual fencing, advanced parasite detection, automated counting and behaviour tracking, anomaly detection, precision nutrition, breeding support, and several mobile-based management applications are currently being utilized in sheep farms and appear to be promising. Although artificial intelligence and machine learning may represent key features in the sustainable development of sheep farming, they present numerous challenges in application

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Sardinia, Italy

Anaplasma phagocytophilum (formerly Ehrlichia phagocytophila), a tick-transmitted pathogen that infects several animal species, including humans (involved as accidental "dead-end" hosts), is the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). It is a pathogen of veterinary importance responsible for tickborne fever of ruminants and for granulocytic anaplasmosis of horses and dogs). HGA was first described in the United States in 1994 and is emerging in Europe. Although only 2 human cases have been reported in Italy, serologic and molecular findings have shown A. phagocytophilum infections in dogs and Ixodes ricinus ticks. Incidence, prevalence, and public impact of HGA and horse granulocytic anaplasmosis are, therefore, unknown for this geographic area. From 1992 to 1996, an average rate of 13.4 cases/year/100,000 inhabitants of tick bite–related fever of unknown etiology has been reported on the island of Sardinia, Italy, which is considerably higher than the corresponding national average value of 2.1 cases/year/100,000 inhabitants. Moreover, 117 cases of tick bite–related fever, whose etiology remains obscure, have been reported from 1995 to 2002 in the central west coast area of the island. Local newspapers occasionally report deaths as a result of tick bites, although no HGA-associated deaths have been documented in Europe.This study investigated A. phagocytophilum in Sardinia

Artrite encefalite caprina (C. A. E.): antigeni ricombinanti per uso diagnostico

Dottorato di ricerca in patologia infettiva degli ovini e dei capriniConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Nodular lesions of the tongue in canine leishmaniosis: case report

In this case report, an atypical clinical presentation of leishmaniosis in a dog with multiple nodular lesions of the tongue is described. Haematological and biochemical analysis, serological test for Leishmania infantum antibodies and biopsy samples from several nodules of the tongue for histopathological examination were made. The final diagnosis of leishmaniosis was based upon the observation of amastigotes in the bioptic samples. It is recommended to consider leishmaniosis among the list of differentials of mucosal nodular lesions, at least in endemic areas

What is your diagnosis? Cerebrospinal fluid from a sheep

In May 2011, 2 Sarda breed sheep (ID569 and ID622) from a livestock facility in the province of Nuoro (Sardinia, Italy) affected with chronic coenurosis were presented to the Veterinary Clinical Laboratory of the University of Sassari. The animals were included in a study conducted to investigate potential alterations of the brain and skull in 24 sheep with chronic coenurosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI detected the presence of one cyst in the medial cerebral hemisphere of sheep ID569, and 2 cysts in the left cerebral hemisphere of sheep ID622. Definitive diagnosis of chronic coenurosis was made by macroscopic and morphologic identification of T multiceps cyst after surgical extraction. Both animals manifested depression, disorientation, and alterations of postural reactions. Sheep ID569 revealed bilateral menace deficit while sheep ID622 showed a unilateral menace deficit. Complete resolution of neurologic signs was observed in both sheep within 7 days after removal of cysts

Imunološki posredovana hemolitička anemija udružena sa candidatus mycoplasma haemoatoparvum kod splenektomisanog psa u Italiji

This report describes a case of canine hemotropic mycoplasmasosis by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in a dog. A five-year-old splenectomized dog was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Sassari with clinical symptoms and laboratory findings compatible with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Epicellular bacteria were detected in the erythrocytes by microscopic examination of blood smears. PCR and sequencing were positive for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. Treatment with doxycycline, prednisolone and blood transfusion was administered. Several studies have described the molecular prevalence of M. hemocanis and Candidatus M. haematoparvum, however there are few clinical reports, especially those describing Candidatus M. haematoparvum infection in dogs, for which only two cases have been reported. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report of a symptomatic infection caused by Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in Italy. Hemoplasmosis should be considered as a potential cause of hemolytic anemia in dogs. Following treatment with doxycycline and prednisolone, the clinical signs improved without resolution of infection. This condition was the same at the three-year follow-up.Izveštaj opisuje slučaj hemotropne mikoplazmoze psa izazvane Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. Petogodišnji splenektomirani pas je upuć en u Veterinarsku nastavnu bolnicu Univerziteta u Sassariju sa kliničkim simptomima i laboratorijskim nalazima koji su kompatibilni sa imunološki posredovanom hemolitičkom anemijom. Epicelularne bakterije su detektovane na eritrocitima mikroskopskim pregledom razmaza krvi. PCR i sekvenciranje su bili pozitivni za Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. Izvršen je tretman doksiciklinom, prednisolonom i tranfuzijom krvi. Nekoliko studija opisalo je molekularnu prevalenciju Mycoplasma haemocanis i Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, ali klinički izveštaji su oskudni, posebno opisujuć i infekciju sa Micoplasma haematoparvum kod pasa za koju su prijavljena samo dva slučaja. Prema našim saznanjima ovo je je prvi prikaz slučaja simptomatske infekcije uzrokovane Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvumom u Italiji. Hemoplazmozu treba posmatrati kao potencijalni uzrok hemolitičke anemije kod pasa. Nakon tretmana doksiciklinom i prednisolonom klinički znaci su se poboljšali bez nestanka infekcije. Stanje je bilo nepromenjeno u tokom naredne tri godine

Serological and molecular detection of <i>Bartonella</i> spp. in humans, cats and dogs from Northern Sardinia, Italy

Bartonella spp. are aerobic, gram-negative pleomorphic bacteria, belonging to the α2 subgroup of the Proteobacteria. Many Bartonella spp. are pathogens of humans, dogs, and cats. Numerous domestic and wild animals can serve as chronically infected reservoir hosts for Bartonella spp. An increasing number of arthropod vectors have been implicated in the transmission of Bartonella spp. The main source of transmission to humans is cats by means of scratches, whereas infection is less likely to occur by cat bite. Most human cases of infection with Bartonella henselae, named cat scratch disease (CSD), present as an acute febrile lymphadenopathy. The presence of cat fleas is essential for the maintenance of the infection within the cat population. The role of dogs as reservoirs of Bartonella spp. is less clear, because they seem to be only accidental hosts. Nevertheless, dogs are excellent sentinels for human infections, because a similar disease spectrum develops in dogs

Coagulation Abnormalities in Dogs with Parvoviral Enteritis

Hemostatic alterations have been documented in dogs with canine parvoviral enteritis. This study’s aims were to measure the standard coagulation parameters, and to assess the relationship between them and the clinical variables in dogs with canine parvoviral enteritis. Nine client-owned dogs with a canine parvoviral infection were included in a prospective, observational clinical study. Clinical score and coagulation status were assessed at admission. All nine dogs showed alterations of three or more standard coagulation variables. A correlation analysis evidenced a significantly high positive correlation between the activated partial thromboplastin time and clinical score. The present study concurs that dogs with canine parvoviral enteritis have coagulation disorders that are detectable by measuring the standard coagulation parameters

Clinical and laboratory findings in equine piroplasmosis

The objective of this study was to evaluate equine piroplasmosis (EP) as a cause of morbidity in horses in Sardinia (Italy), describe the clinical signs and altered hematologic and biochemical parameters, and illustrate response to different treatments. Among 44 horses suspected of tick-borne disease, 38 were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive for Theileria equi (n = 27) or Babesia caballi (n = 6), whereas five were positive for both protozoans. Typical clinical features of piroplasmosis were seen in some of the horses, whereas others had nonspecific mild symptoms. Hematologic findings revealed involvement of the three blood cell lineages (anemia, leukopenia or leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia), and biochemical variations were related to increased bilirubin, alteration of serum phosphorus, and hypoalbuminemia. We suggest that the two protozoans are the most important causative agents of equine tick-borne disease in this geographic area, and we observe that different clinical features are associated with the disease; in addition to the typical aspects of piroplasmosis, characterized by fever, pale mucous membranes, and icterus, we can signal other nonspecific mild signs such as weight loss, weight loss associated with an insignificant leukopenia, or weight loss associated with depression, anorexia, and mild hyperbilirubin. The study is intended as a practical contribution for veterinary practitioners because it describes different clinical presentations and laboratory findings of EP, suggests diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the disease, and shows diffusion of the disease in a Mediterranean region