PRECISION VETERINARY MEDICINE: THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL HEALTH CARE
Nancy Jasrotia1, Amrita Behera2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kishanganj (BASU, Patna)
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna (BASU, Patna)
Introduction
Precision veterinary medicine is a new generation approach that leverages advancements in genetics, molecular biology, and data analysis to tailor treatment and preventative care to the individual needs of animals, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. This involves using tools like genetic testing and next-generation sequencing to understand an animal’s unique biological profile and predict their response to different therapies, to create tailored management strategies for individual animals or groups.
Instead of relying solely on population-based findings, precision medicine focuses on understanding an animal’s individual characteristics (genetic makeup, lifestyle, environment) to determine the most effective treatment plan thereby allowing a personalized treatment for individual.
The concept of precision medicine has recently attracted widespread interest in human and veterinary medicine, as well as the scientific and public press. Additionally, during his 2015 State of the Union Address, President Obama announced the launch of a Precision Medicine Initiative to spur research, development, and innovation in the field. Precision medicine has the potential to transform the practice of medicine by improving treatment outcomes. In human medicine, the broadest application of precision medicine has been seen in the field of oncology. The practice of precision medicine will inform many aspects of medical care, including disease susceptibility, pharmacogenomics, disease surveillance, risk of surgical complications, and development of drug resistance.
Applications in Veterinary Field:
- Disease Detection and Prevention: Using machine learning algorithms to detect early signs of disease and implement targeted interventions. Genetic testing can help identify predispositions to certain diseases, allowing for early intervention and potentially preventing or delaying the onset of illness. By identifying specific genetic markers or molecular pathways involved in a disease, precision medicine enables the use of targeted therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects.
Overall, precision medicine has the potential to guide more specific diagnostic testing, inform more effective clinical decision-making, and drive more successful treatment interventions. It offers an opportunity to use molecularly guided data and information to deliver the optimal medication in the right amount to the right patient at the right time.
Early detection and intervention for diseases can reduce morbidity and mortality rates, thereby improving animal health.
- Precision Feeding:Optimizing tailored nutritional and feeding strategies based on individual animal needs to optimize nutrient utilization, reduce waste, and improve nutrient utilization.
By the use of data analytics, advanced nutritional formulations, precision feeding can help in making informed decisions about dietary management.
- Reproductive Management:Use of predictive data analytics to optimize breeding programs, improve fertility, and reduce reproductive losses.
Optimized breeding for desirable traits and management practices can lead to improved growth rates, fertility, and productivity.
- Animal Behaviour Monitoring:Utilizing sensors and wearables to monitor animal behaviour, detect early signs of stress or disease, and implement targeted interventions by collecting real-time data on animal behaviour, health, and productivity.
Tailored management strategies can improve animal comfort, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being, enhancing animal welfare.
- Reduced Environmental Impact:Precision management can help reduce waste, minimize antibiotic use, and promote sustainable livestock production practices.
Application of machine learning and statistical models to analyze data and identify patterns, trends, and insights can help in management decisions and implementing targeted interventions and management strategies to optimize animal health, welfare, and productivity.
- One Health Approach:
Precision veterinary medicine can contribute to the One Health initiative by improving animal health, by identifying and mitigating health risks at the human-animal-environment interface, which in turn can have positive impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Current scenario:
Precision medicine promises benefits to veterinary clinical practice beyond defining disease pathogenesis on the basis of shared molecular mechanisms between humans and animals.
- Canine Oncology:
Precision medicine is revolutionizing cancer treatment in dogs by identifying specific genetic mutations that can be targeted with drugs.
- Genetic and Infectious Diseases:
Genetic testing can help diagnose inherited diseases like hip dysplasia in dogs and inherited retinal diseases in cats, allowing for appropriate management and potentially preventing the disease from progressing.
Understanding the genetic makeup of pathogens can help in developing more effective vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases in animals.
Advancements in data analysis and computational biology are enabling the integration of various data types (genomic, proteomic, etc.) to provide a more comprehensive understanding of animal health.
- Pharmacogenomics:
By studying how genes influence an animal’s response to drugs, precision medicine can help optimize drug dosages and minimize adverse drug reactions.
Conclusion
AI and machine learning are being applied to analyze large datasets and identify patterns that can be used to predict disease risk and optimize treatment strategies. Precision medicine utilizes optimized preventive or curative therapeutic approach (right animal, right drug, right dose, right time) based on identification of biomarkers of disease and use of technologies of disease monitoring to enhance animal health, welfare, and productivity in livestock production. The emergence of such technology may modify the role of veterinary practice in future.
References:
Lloyd KC, Khanna C, Hendricks W, Trent J, Kotlikoff M. Precision medicine: an opportunity for a paradigm shift in veterinary medicine. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2016 Jan 1;248(1):45-8. doi: 10.2460/javma.248.1.45. PMID: 26684088; PMCID: PMC4996120.
The White House; Fact sheet: President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative. Available at: www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/01/30/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-precision-medicine-initiative
