• List of Articles


      • Open Access Article

        1 - Problem-solving and Futures Studies in Veterinary Programs and Services
        Alireza Bahonar Hamid Sharifi
        The increase in population and the need to supply foodstuffs have raised the importance of animal health and veterinary activities more than ever before in the country's food security and development. In this paper, which focuses on veterinary activities in the field of More
        The increase in population and the need to supply foodstuffs have raised the importance of animal health and veterinary activities more than ever before in the country's food security and development. In this paper, which focuses on veterinary activities in the field of food-producing livestock, the concepts of need, supply, and demand are defined, and the methods of determining and prioritizing health needs in the livestock population of the country are presented. In the context of problems in setting priorities, there are also important points such as livestock population statistics, lack of human resources, rapid management changes, economic factors, management considerations, the traditional structure of animal husbandry, insufficient training of producers, and technical health officials of livestock farms, lack of inter-sectoral cooperation and necessary support. From the country's veterinary organization, the lack of sufficient information about diseases and animal health status in neighboring countries, especially Iraq and Afghanistan, and the weakness of border and interprovincial quarantine systems have been noted. Factors affecting the use of animal health services points such as access to services, feeling of need or demand, assurance of quality, price and cost of services and insurance coverage have been mentioned. On the other hand, in recent decades, issues such as climate change, changes in international laws and regulations related to animal health and environment, transgenic products, bioterrorism, and drought, each of which affects the health and livestock production in some way, the need to pay attention to Proposes futures studies. Futures studies are a science that helps to better see these changes and prepare for them. The emergence of some new fields such as artificial intelligence, remote medicine and veterinary medicine (Telemedicine), personalized medicine and veterinary medicine, the emergence of robots in medicine and veterinary medicine, etc. paid attention. The sum of these issues should make us think about how much preparation there is for the future and these changes. It is suggested to make changes in the important fields of veterinary medicine such as education and research, veterinary structures at the national and international levels, and jobs related to veterinary medicine, in line with foresight and futurology. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        2 - Evaluation of Diagnostic and Screening Test in Veterinary Medicine
        Mohammad Arad Zandieh Fateme Sheikhian Hamid Sharifi Hesameddin Akbarein
        Screening tests are a special type of diagnostic tests that are performed in an apparently healthy population. The purpose of performing diagnostic tests is to correctly diagnose patients, distinguish affected animals from healthy animals, distinguish between cases and More
        Screening tests are a special type of diagnostic tests that are performed in an apparently healthy population. The purpose of performing diagnostic tests is to correctly diagnose patients, distinguish affected animals from healthy animals, distinguish between cases and controls, and distinguish between normal and abnormal cases. Screening tests should be simple, cheap, rapid and valid. Diagnostic and screening tests are mainly used in the monitoring of diseases. Related terms to the evaluation of these tests, including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, accuracy and precision, as well as concepts such as the golden standard, because they are often used interchangeably or misinterpreted, it is especially important to learn them. Also, due to the fact that gold standard tests are often more expensive and time-consuming, incomplete diagnostic tests are used, which can be calculated by calculating the sensitivity and specificity of the actual and apparent prevalence obtained by the diagnostic test. However, if the golden standard test is not available, other methods are used to evaluate the tests, including the Kappa index test. The interpretation results of these tests provide a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to clinicians and experts, which ultimately leads to more accurate, comprehensive, cheaper and faster monitoring. In this review article, with a complete and comprehensive review of the conventional concepts in the evaluation of diagnostic tests, along with the solution of practical examples, we will expand and provide a comprehensive presentation of these concepts. Also, the latest original studies that have been done in the field of evaluation of diagnostic tests will also be reviewed in this article. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        3 - An overview of sampling, sample size and data collection methods in veterinary research
        Dariush Saadati Samira Saadat jou Ali Anusha
        At the beginning of any study, these questions usually come to the researcher's mind; How many samples should be taken to conduct this study? How are these samples selected from the target population? How I can collect the required data? In this article, we are going to More
        At the beginning of any study, these questions usually come to the researcher's mind; How many samples should be taken to conduct this study? How are these samples selected from the target population? How I can collect the required data? In this article, we are going to answer these questions. In order to choose the appropriate sample size, attention should be paid to the statistical method with which the data is to be analyzed. In the surveys, the researcher intends to estimate the desired average or prevalence in the population with 95% confidence interval. There are two formulas for determining the sample size in surveys that are referred to. In studies, the aim is to compare the average or prevalence between different groups. In each study, according to which statistical test to use for data analysis, there is a specific formula for determining the sample size, some of which are mentioned in this article. In order to choose the sampling method from a statistical point of view, attention should be paid to the type of research, in surveys and cross-sectional observational studies, the samples should be randomly selected from among the members of the population. Otherwise, these samples will not be representative of the target population. But in interventional studies, random sampling method is not considered. Rather, there are inclusion criteria, and any person or animal (in veterinary studies) who meets these criteria can enter the study. After the members enter the intervention study, these members should be randomly assigned to different treatments. The required data to conduct research can be collected through examination, observation, experiments or interviews. A questionnaire must be designed for the interview. In designing the questionnaire, attention should be paid to the validity and reliability of the questions. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        4 - Data Analyses in Veterinary Research & Practice
        Negin Esfandiary MohammadArad zandieh
        Researchers can interpret and analyze livestock problems and diseases by using data obtained from different characteristics of animals and their environment. The pivotal role of statistical analysis of data in the field of veterinary research & practice is inevitable. I More
        Researchers can interpret and analyze livestock problems and diseases by using data obtained from different characteristics of animals and their environment. The pivotal role of statistical analysis of data in the field of veterinary research & practice is inevitable. In this review article, shedding light on its significance in unraveling complex patterns and drawing reliable conclusions from diverse datasets. The veterinary domain, characterized by a spectrum of species and inherent biological variability, necessitates robust statistical methodologies to discern meaningful insights. In order to make inferences about disease causation or a researcher's hypothesis, data must be categorized and the goal is to decide whether the groups are statistically different or not. Finally, using a suitable statistical test, the research hypothesis is rejected or accepted, and finally the necessary interpretations are made. The researcher can decide what data should be collected and how. In practice, in this case, the researcher's hands are open and they can make the best possible decision, but often prospective data collection is costly and time-consuming. Another mode is retrospective research, which is often based on data collected by veterinarians from slaughterhouses, laboratories, clinics, inoculation centers, etc. or from other organizations and institutions. The article explores a range of statistical techniques applied in veterinary research and practice, including data normalization, hypothesis test, parametric and non-parametric test, regression and coefficient test, and validity in veterinary medicine. These futures has shedding light on animal interactions and patterns. Ultimately, this review article serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers and practitioners in veterinary science, offering insights into the nuanced application of statistical analyses. By navigating the complexities of veterinary data, it aims to empower the scientific community to leverage statistical tools effectively, ultimately advancing the quality and reliability of research in veterinary medicine. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        5 - Observational Studies in Veterinary Research & Practice
        Alireza Bahonar Marzieh Faezi Zahra Boluki
        One of the most important applications of epidemiology is the investigation of the causes of diseases. In this regard, the appropriate design of study to approach the causes and risk factors of a disease is vital. Observational studies are a category of studies that hel More
        One of the most important applications of epidemiology is the investigation of the causes of diseases. In this regard, the appropriate design of study to approach the causes and risk factors of a disease is vital. Observational studies are a category of studies that help the researcher in identifying risk factors for disease occurrence and quantifying the effect of these factors on it, thereby influencing its control within the population. These studies are conducted through observing the natural behavior of disease in the population. Accurate and precise data collection (a part that receives less attention in the country) forms the cornerstone of these studies, requiring special attention from educational, extension, and research centers. In this article, various types of observational studies are initially introduced in general terms. Subsequently, cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies, as the three main types of observational studies, are comprehensively explained. The methods of grouping for study entry, calculation of minimum sample size, applications, and advantages and disadvantages of each study are described in detail. Additionally, the capabilities that each type of these studies provides to the researcher for interpreting the causality of the occurrence or the desired outcome in the study are provided at the end of each section. After introducing the implementation method of each study, depending on the case, references to three or four articles with similar study designs are provided to serve as examples of observational studies as a model. It should be noted that these types of studies are foundational for conducting intervention studies, and creating infrastructure for data recording and analysis is necessary for conducting these studies. Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        6 - Interventional (Experimental) Studies in Veterinary Research & Practice
        Alireza Bahonar Marzieh Faezi Zahra Boluki
        Interventional studies , especially in laboratory experimental researches , constitute a significant portion of the theses conducted in veterinary faculties across the country . The importance of these study designs in applied research and development underscores More
        Interventional studies , especially in laboratory experimental researches , constitute a significant portion of the theses conducted in veterinary faculties across the country . The importance of these study designs in applied research and development underscores the necessity for students and researchers to be familiar with this design . This article begins with a brief history of this type of study . It then proceeds to introduce various types ( laboratory , clinical trials , field trials , social trials , quasi-experimental studies ) , the different phases of this design ( pharmacological and toxicity testing , initial testing for potential therapeutic and safety effects , clinical evaluation stage , post-marketing evaluation ) , and its various methods (parallel design , crossover design , sequential design , factorial design ) . This article also discusses the required sample size for conducting a study , criteria for entry and exit of study participants or animals , blinding and medical ethics . Given the importance of clinical trials , especially in terms of ethical considerations in research , the registration of this type of study after proposal development is also mentioned . This article refers to some examples of interventional studies published in Iran and worldwide so that students and researchers can use these designs as models . It is expected that the reader could critically read these type of articles and reports , published in scientific texts and play an effective role in conducting an experimental ( interventional ) study . Manuscript profile
      • Open Access Article

        7 - An Overview of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Prediction and Diagnosis of Diseases Occurrence in Veterinary Medicine: Challenges and Techniques
        Mahdi Bashizadeh Parham Soufizadeh Mahdi Zamiri Ayda Lamei Matin Sotoudehnejad Mahsa Daneshmand Melika Ghodrati Erika Isavi Hesameddin Akbarein
        Early diagnosis of diseases is one of the main goals of health and wellness centers. Timely diagnosis can reduce the potential damage of diseases. The importance of this issue in veterinary medicine multiplies due to its combination with economic goals. Therefore, a pre More
        Early diagnosis of diseases is one of the main goals of health and wellness centers. Timely diagnosis can reduce the potential damage of diseases. The importance of this issue in veterinary medicine multiplies due to its combination with economic goals. Therefore, a predictive approach is necessary for early diagnosis of diseases. This approach should be evidence-based and highly accurate. It should also be economically efficient. Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence and judgment by a computer or a robot that is programmed or trained to perform tasks that normally need human abilities. The emergence of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in today's world has improved the existing functions in health care systems. So that with the application of this technology, a significant progress has been made in the procedures of event prediction and disease diagnosis, management and health at the macro level, etc. Furthermore, the scope of diagnosable diseases is extensive, encompassing any ailment for which relevant data can be processed by artificial intelligence algorithms. The trained model has the capability to diagnose a wide range of diseases, with accuracy contingent upon factors such as disease indicators, collected data, and other pertinent variables. In this review article, the most important applications of artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine will be mentioned, and in general, these applications will be examined in various fields such as diagnosis of common diseases, differential diagnosis, prediction of disease occurrence, veterinary diagnostic imaging techniques, veterinary clinical pathology, etc. In addition, the challenges in this field will also be mentioned. This article is a review of recent studies in this fiel. Manuscript profile