Search Results (296)

Classification prediction technology, which utilizes labeled data for training to enable autonomous decision, has emerged as a pivotal tool across numerous fields. The Elman neural network (ENN) exhibits potential in tackling nonlinear problems. However, its computational process faces inherent limitations in escaping local optimum and experiencing a slow convergence rate. To improve these shortcomings, an ENN classifier based on Hyperactivity Rat Swarm Optimizer (HRSO), named HRSO-ENNC, is proposed in this paper. Initially, HRSO is divided into two phases, search and mutation, by means of a nonlinear adaptive parameter. Subsequently, five search actions are introduced to enhance the global exploratory and local exploitative capabilities of HRSO. Furthermore, a stochastic roaming strategy is employed, which significantly improves the ability to jump out of local positions. Ultimately, the integration of HRSO and ENN enables the substitution of the original gradient descent method, thereby optimizing the neural connection weights and thresholds. The experiment results demonstrate that the accuracy and stability of HRSO-ENNC have been effectively verified through comparisons with other algorithm classifiers on benchmark functions, classification datasets and an AlSi10Mg process classification problem. Full article

Mexico has not only successfully eliminated dog-mediated human rabies in recent years, but also the last rabies case in a dog infected with the canine variant of the rabies virus was reported in 2016. Mass dog vaccination campaigns were the cornerstone of these achievements. Unfortunately, the rabies virus still circulates in wildlife and, thus, spill-over infections in humans, livestock, and pets, including dogs, still occurs. Especially dogs that cohabit at interfaces shared with wildlife, like shepherd dogs, are at risk. These dogs are often free-roaming and difficult to restrain for vaccination purposes. Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) as an alternative vaccination strategy was tested in several rural villages in Querétaro State, Mexico. Bait acceptance and immunogenicity studies were conducted to test a licensed vaccine bait in terms of attractiveness and if the oral rabies vaccine strain, SPBN GASGAS, was able to induce an adequate immune response in local dogs, respectively. Although the egg(-flavored) bait was less well accepted (68.4%) by the dogs than the two other bait types included in the study, a bait made from boiled intestine segments (71.2%) and a bait with fish meal as an attractant (72.3%), dogs offered the egg bait were more often considered successfully vaccinated. 83.3% of the dogs offered an egg bait seroconverted during the immunogenicity study. Hence, ORV can be a suitable alternative by increasing the overall vaccination coverage of dogs that cannot be easily restrained and handled for vaccination. Full article

Although trap-neuter-return (TNR) is a popular method for managing free-roaming domestic cat populations, a common criticism is that sterilization fails to mitigate the public health risks posed by free-roaming cats. One of these risks is the environmental contamination of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that can be spread in the feces of actively infected felids (both domestic and wild). In healthy humans, toxoplasmosis tends to be mild or asymptomatic; however, the disease can have severe consequences (e.g., for pregnant women) and even be fatal in immunocompromised individuals. Previous research has examined the extent to which free-roaming domestic cats might contaminate sites frequented by young children (e.g., schools and parks). However, the model used included several assumptions that are not reflective of sterilized cats in an urban setting (e.g., smaller home range). By properly accounting for several key factors (e.g., reproductive status, home range), our modeling revealed considerably lower rates of potential incursions by sterilized free-roaming cats than those reported previously. More importantly, our results show that sterilization contributes to a considerable reduction in the risk of environmental contamination; TNR therefore appears to be a valuable harm reduction strategy in mitigating the risks of T. gondii infection. Full article

Objective: To investigate public attitudes in New Zealand towards the euthanasia of dogs and cats and to explore the factors that influence these views. Materials and Methods: Data were collected through a nationwide online survey conducted in 2019 as part of the Furry Whānau Wellbeing research project. The survey included questions about pet euthanasia, and respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement with various statements. Results: Of 2293 respondents to the 2019 New Zealand Pet Survey, the majority (n = 1756) opposed euthanasia for stray, unwanted, or financially burdensome pets (76.7%; 90.2% and 66.3% of these disagreed or strongly disagreed, respectively). In contrast, a slim majority (n = 1162) supported it for sick animals. Females were less likely to agree with euthanasia in most scenarios compared to males. Māori and New Zealand European respondents (n = 1790) showed higher levels of neutrality than other ethnicities regarding stray animals and lower levels of disagreement regarding financially constrained situations. Older respondents (65+) were more likely to support euthanasia for sick animals, while younger respondents (18–24) were less inclined. Higher education levels are correlated with increased neutrality towards euthanising stray animals and increased support for euthanising feral animals. Respondents with children were more likely to be neutral or to disagree with euthanasia in most scenarios. Those with rural upbringings were more accepting of euthanasia for stray and feral animals. A thematic analysis of 653 respondent comments revealed key themes: euthanasia was seen as complex and context-dependent, a humane last resort for suffering animals, but not for convenience. Respondents emphasised responsible pet ownership and a right to life, even for feral animals, advocating for alternatives such as trap–neuter–release. Conclusion: New Zealanders largely view euthanasia as an ethically acceptable option for terminally ill or suffering animals but reject it when driven by convenience or financial hardship. Attitudes vary across demographic groups, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive education and policy. The findings align with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and support broader discussions on responsible pet ownership, ethical decision making, and animal welfare legislation. Full article

Sporotrichosis is a zoonotic fungal infection with increasing incidence in the Brazilian Amazon, primarily affecting domestic cats and posing risks to human health. This study characterized the clinical and epidemiological profiles of 29 feline sporotrichosis cases in Manaus and optimized molecular diagnostic methods for Sporothrix species identification. Most affected cats were young (86.2% aged 1–3 years), male (82.7%), and free-roaming or semi-indoor (44.8% each), frequently presenting cutaneous lesions localized at the nasal planum (23.3%), ears (7%), eyes (2.3%) and other facial areas (18.6%). Three DNA extraction methods were compared; the phenol–chloroform protocol yielded the highest DNA concentration and purity, and ITS1–ITS4 primers showed an adequate sensibility for PCR detection. In silico RFLP profiles using common restriction enzymes showed limited discriminatory power among Sporothrix species. ITS sequencing of four high-quality amplicons confirmed all isolates as Sporothrix brasiliensis. Antifungal susceptibility testing of all isolates revealed geometric mean MICs of 0.25 µg/mL for ketoconazole, 0.57 µg/mL for itraconazole, 7.27 µg/mL for amphotericin B, and 64 µg/mL for fluconazole, respectively. These findings provide clinical, molecular, and therapeutic information supporting the diagnosis and surveillance of feline sporotrichosis in the Amazon, reinforcing the need for ongoing veterinary and public health monitoring. Full article

In the era of digital intelligence, digital media landscapes increasingly influence cultural tourism consumption. Consumerism capitalizes on tourists’ superficial aesthetic commonalities, constructing a homogenized media imagination that leads to collective convergence in travel decisions, which obscures aspects of local culture, poses safety risks, and results in fleeting local tourism booms. In this study, semistructured interviews were conducted with 36 tourists, and NVivo12.0 was used for three-level node coding in a qualitative analysis to explore the digital media attributions of conformist travel behavior. The findings indicate that digital media landscapes exert a “digital persuasion” effect by reconstructing self-experience models, directing the individual gaze, and projecting idealized self-images. These mechanisms drive tourists to follow digital traffic trends and engage in imitative behaviors, ultimately shaping the phenomenon of “group roaming”, grounded in the psychological effect of herd behavior. Full article

This study presents the scientific and methodological foundation of Spain’s first national framework for the ethical management of community cat populations: the Action Plan for the Management of Community Cat Colonies (PACF), launched in 2025 under the mandate of Law 7/2023. This pioneering legislation introduces a standardized, nationwide obligation for trap–neuter–return (TNR)-based management of free-roaming cats, defined as animals living freely, territorially attached, and with limited socialization toward humans. The PACF aims to support municipalities in implementing this mandate through evidence-based strategies that integrate animal welfare, biodiversity protection, and public health objectives. Using standardized data submitted by 1128 municipalities (13.9% of Spain’s total), we estimated a baseline population of 1.81 million community cats distributed across 125,000 colonies. These data were stratified by municipal population size and applied to national census figures to generate a model-ready demographic structure. We then implemented a stochastic simulation using Vortex software to project long-term population dynamics over a 25-year horizon. The model integrated eight demographic–environmental scenarios defined by a combination of urban–rural classification and ecological reproductive potential based on photoperiod and winter temperature. Parameters included reproductive output, mortality, sterilization coverage, abandonment and adoption rates, stochastic catastrophic events, and territorial carrying capacity. Under current sterilization rates (~20%), our projections indicate that Spain’s community cat population could surpass 5 million individuals by 2050, saturating ecological and social thresholds within a decade. In contrast, a differentiated sterilization strategy aligned with territorial reproductive intensity (50% in most areas, 60–70% in high-pressure zones) achieves population stabilization by 2030 at approximately 1.5 million cats, followed by a gradual long-term decline. This scenario prioritizes feasibility while substantially reducing reproductive output, particularly in rural and high-intensity contexts. The PACF combines stratified demographic modeling with spatial sensitivity, offering a flexible framework adaptable to local conditions. It incorporates One Health principles and introduces tools for adaptive management, including digital monitoring platforms and standardized welfare protocols. While ecological impacts were not directly assessed, the proposed demographic stabilization is designed to mitigate population-driven risks to biodiversity and public health without relying on lethal control. By integrating legal mandates, stratified modeling, and realistic intervention goals, this study outlines a replicable and scalable framework for coordinated action across administrative levels. It exemplifies how national policy can be operationalized through data-driven, territorially sensitive planning tools. The findings support the strategic deployment of TNR-based programs across diverse municipal contexts, providing a model for other countries seeking to align animal welfare policy with ecological planning under a multi-level governance perspective. Full article

Coyaima is a town in the department of Tolima, Colombia, that was prioritized in a pilot program under Colombia’s National Plan for the Control of the Taeniasis/Cysticercosis Complex, focusing on this neglected health issue. The project engaged local indigenous communities, promoting education and outreach within the One Health framework. The study included 444 randomly selected volunteers, who filled a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey on the taeniasis/cysticercosis complex. The baseline study found no Taenia spp. eggs via microscopy on 383 stool samples examined, and no T. solium DNA was detected on human stool and soil samples by Copro-qPCR. However, seroprevalence was 8.5% for human cysticercosis and 14% for porcine cysticercosis, as detected by in-house ELISA testing for T. solium. Moreover, 57.9% of participants who provided a stool sample were positive for at least one parasite. Following the sampling and characterization activities, local health workers implemented mass treatment with Niclosamide, based on evidence of ongoing transmission, high porcine seroprevalence, poor basic sanitation, and the presence of free-roaming pigs reported in the KAP survey. These findings provide scientific evidence to apply national public health policies for controlling taeniasis/cysticercosis complex in Coyaima. Full article

With the rapid development of wireless communication, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) are widely deployed in high-density environments. Ensuring fast handovers and optimal AP selection during device roaming is critical for maintaining network throughput and user experience. However, frequent mobility, high access density, and dynamic channel fluctuations complicate throughput prediction. To address this, we propose a method combining the Snow-Melting Optimizer (SMO) with decision tree regression models to optimize feature selection and model transmission opportunities (TXOP) and AP throughput. Experimental results show that the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model performs best, achieving high prediction accuracy for TXOP (MSE = 1.3746, R² = 0.9842) and AP throughput (MAE = 2.5071, R² = 0.9896). This approach effectively captures the nonlinear relationships between throughput and network factors in dense WLAN scenarios, demonstrating its potential for real-world applications. Full article

Rabies is a fatal but entirely vaccine-preventable disease, with the highest risk in areas where free-roaming domestic dogs are prevalent. Understanding dog owners’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) is crucial for shaping effective rabies control strategies. This scoping review aimed to synthesize global evidence from studies evaluating dog owners’ KAP to identify behavioral factors relevant to rabies prevention and control. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, covering the period from 2012 to 2025. Seventy full-text articles were included based on predefined criteria. The findings reveal substantial gaps in dog owners’ knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding rabies prevention. While general awareness of rabies is high among dog owners, their knowledge about transmission, clinical signs, and the fatal nature of the disease is inconsistent, with significant variability across studies. The vaccination uptake also varied widely across studies, ranging from less than 1% to over 90%, with no study reporting full coverage. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was found between vaccination practice and the awareness of vaccine benefits (r = 0.69, p = 0.004). Common barriers to vaccination include lack of information, vaccine accessibility, distance to clinics, and personal constraints. These insights underscore the importance of early and targeted communication about vaccination campaigns. Future research should focus on periodically evaluating KAP before and after interventions to better inform rabies control efforts. Full article

Anoplocephala spp. are common equine tapeworm species in Europe, frequently found in grazing horses. Anoplocephala perfoliata is the most pathogenic, clinically significant species associated with gastrointestinal disorders, particularly colic, and can have a fatal outcome in some horses. The aim of this study was to determine the infection prevalence of Anoplocephala spp. in Serbia and to identify relevant risk factors. A total of 173 horses from various regions were tested using a combination of diagnostic methods: coprological analysis via combined sedimentation–flotation and the Mini-FLOTAC technique, as well as serological testing using a commercial ELISA test. The overall prevalence was 38.7%, with a higher number of positive cases being identified by serology. It was demonstrated that coprology and serology are complementary approaches for prevalence studies. Infection risk factors included high stocking density, free-roaming status and co-infection with nematodes, while lower rainfall and temperate climate were associated with reduced risk of tapeworm infection. These findings highlight the challenges of Anoplocephala spp. detection and provide insight into the epidemiology of equine tapeworm infection in Southeastern Europe. Full article

The domestic cat is the primary reservoir host of three flea-borne Bartonella species, one of which (Bartonella henselae) causes reduced fertility and reproductive failure in experimentally infected cats. Vertical transmission of Bartonella has been documented only in B-cell deficient mice, but not immunocompetent animals. As many free-roaming cats are chronically infected with Bartonella and may be immunocompromised by environmental stress or coinfection, we attempted to isolate Bartonella from the fetal and placental tissues of pregnant queens spayed during trap–neuter–release. Four samples from each tissue (ovary, uterus, fetus, and placenta) were split for direct DNA extraction, liquid culture, and culture on a blood agar plate. Samples from infected queens were inoculated into liquid media and sampled weekly for three weeks for DNA extraction and plating. Bartonella DNA was sequenced directly from 28% (5/18) of the free-roaming queens. For these five queens, liquid enrichment culture was attempted in duplicate for fetal and placental samples. Bartonella clarridgeiae DNA was amplified using qPCR liquid enrichment cultures from the placentas of two cats. These findings suggest that viable Bartonella organisms are present in feline reproductive tissue. Additional studies are needed to assess the transplacental transmission of Bartonella spp. and Bartonella’s influence on fetal development. Full article

Free-roaming dogs (FRDs) pose significant public health and animal welfare challenges globally, particularly in developing nations, where they serve as major reservoirs for zoonotic diseases, especially rabies. Determining the population size of FRDs, their demographic characteristics, and the factors influencing population size is essential for effective dog population management, which constitutes a critical component of rabies control programs. This study aimed to estimate the size and describe the characteristics of the FRD population and evaluate temporal and spatial variations in FRD sightings on the Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Thailand. Factors influencing population size were assessed using a negative binomial regression model. The campus area was divided into 52 accessible blocks for dog-counting purposes. In 2018 and 2019, each block was surveyed once annually for a comprehensive census. In 2021, each block was surveyed on six occasions, three in the morning and three in the evening, using a photographic recapture method. Dogs sighted were photographed, and their characteristics and spatial coordinates were recorded. The total population sizes of FRDs on campus were documented as 529, 577, and 531 in 2018, 2019, and 2021, respectively. Intact female dogs predominantly constituted the majority of the FRD population. Regression analysis indicated a significant association between the number of FRDs within a block and the number of intact adult female dogs. The percentage of dogs sighted per occasion was significantly higher during evening surveys compared to morning surveys. This study proposes a practical census approach that combines total block counts with photographic recapture to estimate the population of FRDs. The findings offer valuable insights for developing effective dog population management strategies and planning rabies vaccination campaigns. Full article

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is a contagious neoplasm with low metastatic potential, primarily affecting free-roaming and stray dogs. Despite its global presence, epidemiological data from some regions remain limited. This study employed a retrospective observational design and analyzed 131 CTVT cases diagnosed via cytology or histopathology at a veterinary teaching hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, aiming to describe the anatomical distribution, treatment outcomes, and epidemiological patterns. Most affected dogs were mixed-breed (70.2%) and female (61.1%), with a median age of 4.5 years. Genital involvement was most common (87.0%), followed by cutaneous (10.7%), nasal (6.1%), and oral (4.6%) tumors. Concurrent tumor locations included genital-cutaneous (5.3%) and oronasal (3.1%). Females had more genital cases, while males were more likely to present cutaneous and nasal CTVT, with 5.2 times greater odds for nasal tumors (OR = 5.2; 95% CI = 1.2–25.9). Purebred dogs also had increased odds of nasal involvement (OR = 8.2; 95% CI = 1.9–40.7). Vincristine chemotherapy was effective, and the number of sessions required for a complete response was not associated with clinical presentation, breed or size. These findings highlight the varied presentations of CTVT and reinforce the need for clinical awareness of non-genital forms. Full article