Veterinarians and researchers in the US have discovered a technique to predict leptospirosis in dogs using artificial intelligence. Leptospirosis, a disease that dogs can get from drinking water contaminated with Leptospira bacteria, can cause kidney failure, liver disease and severe bleeding into the lungs. Early detection of the disease is crucial and may mean the difference between life and death. [1]

Figure 1. Using artificial intelligence to predict life-threatening bacterial disease in dogs

Figure 1 shows The research involved historical data of patients at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital that had been tested for leptospirosis. Routinely collected blood work from these 413 dogs was used to train an AI prediction model. Over the next year, the hospital treated an additional 53 dogs with suspected leptospirosis. The model correctly identified all nine dogs that were positive for leptospirosis (100% sensitivity). The model also correctly identified approximately 90% of the 44 dogs that were ultimately leptospirosis negative.

The goal for the model is for it to become an online resource for veterinarians to enter patient data and receive a timely prediction. [2]

Detection model may help people

Leptospirosis is a life-threatening zoonotic disease, meaning it can transfer from animals to humans. As the disease is also difficult to diagnose in people, Reagan hopes the technology behind this groundbreaking detection model has translational ability into human medicine. [3]

She said her hope is that the technology will be able to recognise cases of Leptospirosis in real time, giving clinicians and owners important information about the disease process and prognosis. She added that the researchers hope to apply AI methods to improve the ability to quickly diagnose other types of infections. [4]

References:

1. https://www.vetpracticemag.com.au/using-ai-to-predict-life-threatening-bacterial-disease-in-dogs/
2. https://phys.org/news/2022-05-artificial-intelligence-life-threatening-bacterial-disease.html
3. https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/using-artificial-intelligence-predict-life-threatening-bacterial-disease-dogs
4. https://news.abplive.com/science/this-technique-can-predict-life-threatening-bacterial-disease-in-dogs-study-1534892

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), Using artificial intelligence to predict life-threatening bacterial disease in dogs, Anatechmaz, p.p 94