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Turunen S, Paavilainen S, Vepsäläinen J, Hielm-Björkman A. Scent Detection Threshold of Trained Dogs to Eucalyptus Hydrolat. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1083. [PMID: 38612322 PMCID: PMC11010826 DOI: 10.3390/ani14071083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) sense of smell is based on a unique anatomy and physiology that enables them to find and differentiate low concentrations of odor molecules. This ability is exploited when dogs are trained as search, rescue, or medical detection dogs. We performed a three-part study to explore the scent detection threshold of 15 dogs to an in-house-made Eucalyptus hydrolat. Here, decreasing concentrations of the hydrolat were tested using a three-alternative forced-choice method until the first incorrect response, which defined the limit of scent detection for each tested dog. Quantitative proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to identify and measure the contents of ten commercial Eucalyptus hydrolats, which are used in a dog scent training sport called "nose work". In this study, the dogs' limit of detection initially ranged from 1:104 to 1:1023 but narrowed down to 1:1017-1:1021 after a training period. The results show that, with training, dogs learn to discriminate decreasing concentrations of a target scent, and that dogs can discriminate Eucalyptus hydrolat at very low concentrations. We also detected different concentrations of eucalyptol and lower alcohols in the hydrolat products and highlight the importance of using an identical source of a scent in training a dog for participation in canine scent sport competitions and in olfactory research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soile Turunen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (S.T.); (J.V.)
| | - Susanna Paavilainen
- Wise Nose-Finnish Odor Separation Association, 00790 Helsinki, Finland;
- Nose Academy Ltd., 70780 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jouko Vepsäläinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (S.T.); (J.V.)
| | - Anna Hielm-Björkman
- DogRisk Research Group, Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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2
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Abrams KL, Ward DA, Sabiniewicz A, Hummel T. Olfaction evaluation in dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome. Vet Ophthalmol 2024; 27:127-138. [PMID: 37399129 DOI: 10.1111/vop.13121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate olfaction in dogs with sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) compared with sighted dogs and blind dogs without SARDS as control groups. ANIMALS STUDIED Forty client-owned dogs. PROCEDURE Olfactory threshold testing was performed on three groups: SARDS, sighted, and blind/non-SARDS using eugenol as the test odorant. The olfactory threshold was determined when subjects indicated the detection of a specific eugenol concentration with behavioral responses. Olfactory threshold, age, body weight, and environmental room factors were evaluated. RESULTS Sixteen dogs with SARDS, 12 sighted dogs, and 12 blind/non-SARDS dogs demonstrated mean olfactory threshold pen numbers of 2.8 (SD = 1.4), 13.8 (SD = 1.4), and 13.4 (SD = 1.1), respectively, which correspond to actual mean concentrations of 0.017 g/mL, 1.7 × 10-13 g/mL and 4.26 × 10-13 g/mL, respectively. Dogs with SARDS had significantly poorer olfactory threshold scores compared with the two control groups (p < .001), with no difference between the control groups (p = .5). Age, weight, and room environment did not differ between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS Dogs with SARDS have severely decreased olfaction capabilities compared with sighted dogs and blind/non-SARDS dogs. This finding supports the suspicion that SARDS is a systemic disease causing blindness, endocrinopathy, and hyposmia. Since the molecular pathways are similar in photoreceptors, olfactory receptors, and steroidogenesis with all using G-protein coupled receptors in the cell membrane, the cause of SARDS may exist at the G-protein associated interactions with intracellular cyclic nucleotides. Further investigations into G-protein coupled receptors pathway and canine olfactory receptor genes in SARDS patients may be valuable in revealing the cause of SARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth L Abrams
- Veterinary Ophthalmology Services, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Daniel A Ward
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Agnieszka Sabiniewicz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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3
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Lum HC, Phillips EK. Understanding Human-Autonomy Teams Through a Human-Animal Teaming Model. Top Cogn Sci 2023. [PMID: 38015100 DOI: 10.1111/tops.12713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between humans and animals is complex and influenced by multiple variables. Humans display a remarkably flexible and rich array of social competencies, demonstrating the ability to interpret, predict, and react appropriately to the behavior of others, as well as to engage others in a variety of complex social interactions. Developing computational systems that have similar social abilities is a critical step in designing robots, animated characters, and other computer agents that appear intelligent and capable in their interactions with humans and each other. Further, it will improve their ability to cooperate with people as capable partners, learn from natural instruction, and provide intuitive and engaging interactions for human partners. Thus, human-animal team analogs can be one means through which to foster veridical mental models of robots that provide a more accurate representation of their near-future capabilities. Some digital twins of human-animal teams currently exist but are often incomplete. Therefore, this article focuses on issues within and surrounding the current models of human-animal teams, previous research surrounding this connection, and the challenges when using such an analogy for human-autonomy teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Lum
- Human Systems Engineering, Fulton School of Engineering, Arizona State University
| | - Elizabeth K Phillips
- Human Factors and Applied Cognition Group, Department of Psychology, George Mason University
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4
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Ho UH, Pak SH, Kim K, Pak HS. Efficient screening of SNP in canine OR52N9 and OR9S25 as assistant marker of olfactory ability. J Vet Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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5
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Holcova K, Koru E, Havlicek Z, Rezac P. Factors associated with sniffing behaviors between walking dogs in public places. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2021.105464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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6
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Jendrny P, Twele F, Meller S, Osterhaus ADME, Schalke E, Volk HA. Canine olfactory detection and its relevance to medical detection. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:838. [PMID: 34412582 PMCID: PMC8375464 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06523-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The extraordinary olfactory sense of canines combined with the possibility to learn by operant conditioning enables dogs for their use in medical detection in a wide range of applications. Research on the ability of medical detection dogs for the identification of individuals with infectious or non-infectious diseases has been promising, but compared to the well-established and-accepted use of sniffer dogs by the police, army and customs for substances such as money, explosives or drugs, the deployment of medical detection dogs is still in its infancy. There are several factors to be considered for standardisation prior to deployment of canine scent detection dogs. Individual odours in disease consist of different volatile organic molecules that differ in magnitude, volatility and concentration. Olfaction can be influenced by various parameters like genetics, environmental conditions, age, hydration, nutrition, microbiome, conditioning, training, management factors, diseases and pharmaceuticals. This review discusses current knowledge on the function and importance of canines' olfaction and evaluates its limitations and the potential role of the dog as a biomedical detector for infectious and non-infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Jendrny
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Friederike Twele
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Meller
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Esther Schalke
- Bundeswehr School of Dog Handling, Gräfin-Maltzan-Kaserne, Hochstraße, 56766, Ulmen, Germany
| | - Holger Andreas Volk
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
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7
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Lippi G, Heaney LM. The "olfactory fingerprint": can diagnostics be improved by combining canine and digital noses? Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 58:958-967. [PMID: 31990659 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2019-1269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
A sniffer (detecting) dog is conventionally defined as an animal trained to use its olfactory perceptions for detecting a vast array of substances, mostly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including those exceptionally or exclusively generated in humans bearing specific pathologies. Such an extraordinary sniffing performance translates into the capability of detecting compounds close to the femtomolar level, with performance comparable to that of current mass spectrometry-based laboratory applications. Not only can dogs accurately detect "abnormal volatilomes" reflecting something wrong happening to their owners, but they can also perceive visual, vocal and behavioral signals, which altogether would contribute to raise their alertness. Although it seems reasonable to conclude that sniffer dogs could never be considered absolutely "diagnostic" for a given disorder, several lines of evidence attest that they may serve as efficient screening aids for many pathological conditions affecting their human companions. Favorable results have been obtained in trials on cancers, diabetes, seizures, narcolepsy and migraine, whilst interesting evidence is also emerging on the capability of early and accurately identifying patients with infectious diseases. This would lead the way to proposing an "olfactory fingerprint" loop, where evidence that dogs can identify the presence of human pathologies provides implicit proof of the existence of disease-specific volatilomes, which can be studied for developing laboratory techniques. Contextually, the evidence that specific pathologies are associated with abnormal VOC generation may serve as reliable basis for training dogs to detect these compounds, even (or especially) in patients at an asymptomatic phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University Hospital of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 10, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Liam M Heaney
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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8
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Powell NA, Ruffell A, Arnott G. The Untrained Response of Pet Dogs to Human Epileptic Seizures. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2267. [PMID: 34438725 PMCID: PMC8388511 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening neurological condition which affects approximately 65 million people worldwide. There is currently no reliable and simple early warning seizure-onset device available, which means many people with unstable epilepsy live in fear of injury or sudden death and the negative impact of social stigmatization. If anecdotal claims that untrained dogs anticipate seizures are found to be true, they could offer a simple and readily available early warning system. We hypothesized that, given the extraordinary olfactory ability of dogs, a volatile organic compound exhaled by the dog's epileptic owner may constitute an early warning trigger mechanism to which make dogs react by owner-directed affiliative responses in the pre-seizure period. Using 19 pet dogs with no experience of epilepsy, we exposed them to odours that were deemed to be characteristic of three seizure phases, by using sweat harvested from people with epilepsy. The odours were delivered to a point immediately under a non-epileptic and seated pet dog owner's thighs. By altering the alternating odours emerging from sweat samples, captured before seizure, during a seizure and after a seizure, and two nonseizure controls, we were able to record the response of the 19 pet dogs. Our findings suggest that seizures are associated with an odour and that dogs detect this odour and demonstrate a marked increase in affiliative behaviour directed at their owners. A characteristic response of all 19 dogs to seizure odour presentation was an intense stare which was statistically significant, (p < 0.0029), across the pre-seizure, seizure and post-seizure phases when compared to control odours of nonseizure origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A. Powell
- School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK;
- Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland North, Newcastle BT33 0PW, UK
| | - Alastair Ruffell
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK;
| | - Gareth Arnott
- School of Biological Sciences, Queens University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK;
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9
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Smith TD, Van Valkenburgh B. The dog-human connection. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:10-18. [PMID: 33098272 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
This special issue of The Anatomical Record is the end result of a rare convergence of researchers scattered around the globe who came together to explore the mystery of the dog-human connection. Many of the discussions at the 12th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology in Prague (July 23, 2019) are echoed within this issue. The enigmatic origins of dog domestication (as well as feralized descendants such as the dingo) are discussed, including phases of domestication that we might infer, and our historical knowledge of dog breeding. Emphasized by the morphological and genetic data are the forces of selection, both unintentional and intentional. In our modern life with dogs, we enjoy their companionship and benefit from the utility of many breeds, but we encounter unintended health care issues that are often breed-specific. Dogs are so different in their sensory specializations (especially olfaction), but have uniquely (among other domestic mammals) developed highly sophisticated means of interspecific communication with humans. In sum, the manuscripts within this issue discuss anatomical, paleontological, genetic, and behavioral evidence bearing on the antiquity of the domestic dog, the process of domestication, and the many ways in which dogs continue to affect human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Smith
- School of Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USA
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10
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Martin C, Diederich C, Verheggen F. Cadaver Dogs and the Deathly Hallows-A Survey and Literature Review on Selection and Training Procedure. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1219. [PMID: 32709097 PMCID: PMC7401519 DOI: 10.3390/ani10071219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Human remains detection dogs (HRDDs) are powerful police assets to locate a corpse. However, the methods used to select and train them are as diverse as the number of countries with such a canine brigade. First, a survey sent to human remains searching brigades (Ncountries = 10; NBrigades = 16; NHandlers = 50; Nquestions = 9), to collect their working habits confirmed the lack of optimized selection and training procedures. Second, a literature review was performed in order to outline the strengths and shortcomings of HRDDs training. A comparison between the scientific knowledge and the common practices used by HRDDs brigade was then conducted focusing on HRDDs selection and training procedures. We highlighted that HRDD handlers select their dogs by focusing on behavioral traits while neglecting anatomical features, which have been shown to be important. Most HRDD handlers reported to use a reward-based training, which is in accordance with training literature for dogs. Training aids should be representative of the odor target to allow a dog to reach optimal performances. The survey highlighted the wide diversity of homemade training aids, and the need to optimize their composition. In the present document, key research topics to improve HRDD works are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Martin
- TERRA, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Avenue de la Faculté 2B, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium;
| | - Claire Diederich
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences, University of Namur, Rue de Bruxelles 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium;
| | - François Verheggen
- TERRA, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Avenue de la Faculté 2B, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium;
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11
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Osei-Owusu P, Charlton TM, Kim HK, Missiakas D, Schneewind O. FPR1 is the plague receptor on host immune cells. Nature 2019; 574:57-62. [PMID: 31534221 PMCID: PMC6776691 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1570-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The plague agent, Yersinia pestis, employs a type III secretion system (T3SS) to selectively destroy human immune cells, thereby enabling its replication in the bloodstream and transmission to new hosts via fleabite. The host factors responsible for the selective destruction of immune cells by plague bacteria were not known. Here we show that LcrV, the needle cap protein of the Y. pestis T3SS, binds N-formylpeptide receptor (FPR1) on human immune cells to promote the translocation of bacterial effectors. Plague infection in mice is characterized by high mortality, however N-formylpeptide receptor deficient animals exhibit increased survival and plague-protective antibody responses. We identified FPR1 p.R190W as a candidate human resistance allele that protects neutrophils from Y. pestis T3SS. These findings reveal the plague receptor on immune cells and show that FPR1 mutations provide for plague survival, which appears to have shaped human immune responses towards other infectious diseases and malignant neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Osei-Owusu
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas M Charlton
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominique Missiakas
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Olaf Schneewind
- Howard Taylor Ricketts Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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12
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Junqueira H, Quinn TA, Biringer R, Hussein M, Smeriglio C, Barrueto L, Finizio J, Huang XYM. Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Blood Serum. THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION 2019; 119:2736410. [PMID: 31206136 DOI: 10.7556/jaoa.2019.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Early detection provides the best opportunity for lung cancer survival; however, lung cancer is difficult to detect early because symptoms do not often appear until later stages. Current screening methods such as x-ray and computed tomographic imaging lack the sensitivity and specificity needed for effective early diagnosis. Dogs have highly developed olfactory systems and may be able to detect cancer in its primary stages. Their scent detection could be used to identify biomarkers associated with various types of lung cancer. OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of trained beagles' ability to use their olfactory system to differentiate the odor of the blood serum of patients with lung cancer from the blood serum of healthy controls. METHODS Over the course of 8 weeks, operant conditioning via clicker training was used to train dogs to use their olfactory system to distinguish blood serum from patients with malignant lung cancer from blood serum from healthy controls in a double-blind study. After training, non-small cell lung cancer and healthy control blood serum samples were presented to the dogs, and the sensitivity and specificity of each dog were analyzed. RESULTS Four dogs were trained for the study, but 1 was unmotivated by training and removed from the study. Three dogs were able to correctly identify the cancer samples with a sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 97.5%, positive predictive value of 90.6%, and negative predictive value of 99.2%. CONCLUSION Trained dogs were able to identify non-small cell lung cancer samples from healthy controls. The findings of this study provide a starting point for a larger-scale research project designed to explore the use of canine scent detection as a tool for cancer biomarkers.
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13
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Sacharczuk M, Walczak M, Adamkiewicz E, Walasek A, Ensminger J, Presch M, Jezierski T. Polymorphism of olfactory and neurotransmitters receptor genes in drug and explosives detection dogs can be associated with differences in detection performance. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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14
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Abstract
Abstract
Owing to their virtually incomparable olfactory apparatus and the mutual loving relationship with man, the use of dogs for assisting humans in many activities has become commonplace. Dogs have been used for long for livestock herding, hunting and pulling. More recently, they have been employed for servicing or assisting people with disabilities, for rescuing, for pet therapy and, last but not least, for detecting a vast array of volatile organic compounds related to drugs, narcotics, explosives and foods. Although cancer detection seems the most distinguished use of “man’s best friends” in science and medicine, increasing emphasis is being placed on their capacity to perceive chemical changes or human expressions associated with harmful, even life-threating, blood glucose variations. The evidence available in the current scientific literature attests that diabetes alerting dogs (DADs) have a heterogeneous efficiency for warning owners of episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, with sensitivities and specificities ranging between 0.29–0.80 and 0.49–0.96, respectively. Although the adoption of DADs seems effective for improving the quality of life of many diabetics patients, some important drawbacks can be highlighted. These typically include adoption and keeping expenditures, lack of certification or accreditation of dog providers, poor harmonization of training procedures, significant inter-breed, intra-breed and intra-dog variabilities, wide-ranging alert behaviors, ability of owners to identify dog’s alerts, as well as lack of quality assessment of a dog’s “diagnostic” performance. Overcoming many of these limitations shall probably make DADs more efficient tools for improving diabetes management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry , University Hospital of Verona , Piazzale LA Scuro , 37134 Verona , Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine , University Hospital of Padova , Padova , Italy
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15
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Concha AR, Guest CM, Harris R, Pike TW, Feugier A, Zulch H, Mills DS. Canine Olfactory Thresholds to Amyl Acetate in a Biomedical Detection Scenario. Front Vet Sci 2019; 5:345. [PMID: 30723722 PMCID: PMC6350102 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs' abilities to respond to concentrations of odorant molecules are generally deemed superior to electronic sensors. This sensitivity has been used traditionally in many areas; but is a more recent innovation within the medical field. As a bio-detection sensor for human diseases such as cancer and infections, dogs often need to detect volatile organic compounds in bodily fluids such as urine and blood. Although the limits of olfactory sensitivity in dogs have been studied since the 1960s, there is a gap in our knowledge concerning these limits in relation to the concentration of odorants presented in a fluid phase. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate olfactory detection thresholds to an inert substance, amyl acetate presented in a liquid phase. Ten dogs were trained in a “Go/No go” single scent-detection task using an eight-choice carousel apparatus. They were trained to respond to the presence of solutions of amyl acetate diluted to varying degrees in mineral oil by sitting in front of the positive sample, and not responding to the 7 other control samples. Training and testing took place in an indoor room with the same handler throughout using a food reward. After 30 weeks of training, using a forward chaining technique, dogs were tested for their sensitivity. The handler did not assist the dog during the search and was blind to the concentration of amyl acetate tested and the position of the target in the carousel. The global olfactory threshold trend for each dog was estimated by fitting a least-squares logistic curve to the association between the proportion of true positives and amyl acetate concentration. Results show an olfactory detection threshold for fluid mixtures ranging from 40 parts per billion to 1.5 parts per trillion. There was considerable inter-dog difference in sensitivity, even though all dogs were trained in the same way and worked without the assistance of the handler. This variation highlights factors to be considered in future work assessing olfactory detection performance by dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid R Concha
- Animal Scent Detection Consultancy and Research, Santiago, Chile.,School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rob Harris
- Medical Detection Dogs, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas W Pike
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | | | - Helen Zulch
- School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom.,Dog Trust, London, United Kingdom
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16
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Wang GD, Shao XJ, Bai B, Wang J, Wang X, Cao X, Liu YH, Wang X, Yin TT, Zhang SJ, Lu Y, Wang Z, Wang L, Zhao W, Zhang B, Ruan J, Zhang YP. Structural variation during dog domestication: insights from gray wolf and dhole genomes. Natl Sci Rev 2019; 6:110-122. [PMID: 34694297 PMCID: PMC8291444 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwy076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Several processes like phenotypic evolution, disease susceptibility and environmental adaptations, which fashion the domestication of animals, are largely attributable to structural variations (SVs) in the genome. Here, we present high-quality draft genomes of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and dhole (Cuon alpinus) with scaffold N50 of 6.04 Mb and 3.96 Mb, respectively. Sequence alignment comprising genomes of three canid species reveals SVs specific to the dog, particularly 16 315 insertions, 2565 deletions, 443 repeats, 16 inversions and 15 translocations. Functional annotation of the dog SVs associated with genes indicates their enrichments in energy metabolisms, neurological processes and immune systems. Interestingly, we identify and verify at population level an insertion fully covering a copy of the AKR1B1 (Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member B) transcript. Transcriptome analysis reveals a high level of expression of the new AKR1B1 copy in the small intestine and liver, implying an increase in de novo fatty acid synthesis and antioxidant ability in dog compared to gray wolf, likely in response to dietary shifts during the agricultural revolution. For the first time, we report a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary dynamics of SVs during the domestication step of dogs. Our findings demonstrate that retroposition can birth new genes to facilitate domestication, and affirm the importance of large-scale genomic variants in domestication studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Xiu-Juan Shao
- Agricultural Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Bing Bai
- Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650504, China
- Department of Pediatrics, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Junlong Wang
- College of Pharmacology, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Agricultural Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Xue Cao
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yan-Hu Liu
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources and Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China
| | - Shao-Jie Zhang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources and Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Beijing Zoo, Beijing 100044, China
| | | | - Lu Wang
- Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources and Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Wenming Zhao
- Core Genomic Facility, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Core Genomic Facility, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jue Ruan
- Agricultural Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
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Wagner F, Ruf I. Who nose the borzoi? Turbinal skeleton in a dolichocephalic dog breed (Canis lupus familiaris). Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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18
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Hayes J, McGreevy P, Forbes S, Laing G, Stuetz R. Critical review of dog detection and the influences of physiology, training, and analytical methodologies. Talanta 2018; 185:499-512. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Kusza S, Nagy K, Lanszki J, Heltai M, Szabó C, Czarnomska SD. Moderate genetic variability and no genetic structure within the European golden jackal (Canis aureus) population in Hungary. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0390-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Bax C, Taverna G, Eusebio L, Sironi S, Grizzi F, Guazzoni G, Capelli L. Innovative Diagnostic Methods for Early Prostate Cancer Detection through Urine Analysis: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10040123. [PMID: 29670060 PMCID: PMC5923378 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10040123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among men. It is an asymptomatic and slow growing tumour, which starts occurring in young men, but can be detected only around the age of 40–50. Although its long latency period and potential curability make prostate cancer a perfect candidate for screening programs, the current procedure lacks in specificity. Researchers are rising to the challenge of developing innovative tools able of detecting the disease during its early stage that is the most curable. In recent years, the interest in characterisation of biological fluids aimed at the identification of tumour-specific compounds has increased significantly, since cell neoplastic transformation causes metabolic alterations leading to volatile organic compounds release. In the scientific literature, different approaches have been proposed. Many studies focus on the identification of a cancer-characteristic “odour fingerprint” emanated from biological samples through the application of sensorial or senso-instrumental analyses, others suggest a chemical characterisation of biological fluids with the aim of identifying prostate cancer (PCa)-specific biomarkers. This paper focuses on the review of literary studies in the field of prostate cancer diagnosis, in order to provide an overview of innovative methods based on the analysis of urine, thereby comparing them with the traditional diagnostic procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Bax
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi Taverna
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Department of Urology, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy.
| | - Lidia Eusebio
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Selena Sironi
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Fabio Grizzi
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Guazzoni
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Department of Urology, via Manzoni 56, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy.
| | - Laura Capelli
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Jenkins EK, DeChant MT, Perry EB. When the Nose Doesn't Know: Canine Olfactory Function Associated With Health, Management, and Potential Links to Microbiota. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:56. [PMID: 29651421 PMCID: PMC5884888 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of health, management, and microbiota on olfactory function in canines has not been examined in review. The most important characteristic of the detection canine is its sense of smell. Olfactory receptors are primarily located on the ethmoturbinates of the nasal cavity. The vomeronasal organ is an additional site of odor detection that detects chemical signals that stimulate behavioral and/or physiological changes. Recent advances in the genetics of olfaction suggest that genetic changes, along with the unique anatomy and airflow of the canine nose, are responsible for the macrosmia of the species. Inflammation, alterations in blood flow and hydration, and systemic diseases alter olfaction and may impact working efficiency of detection canines. The scientific literature contains abundant information on the potential impact of pharmaceuticals on olfaction in humans, but only steroids, antibiotics, and anesthetic agents have been studied in the canine. Physical stressors including exercise, lack of conditioning, and high ambient temperature impact olfaction directly or indirectly in the canine. Dietary fat content, amount of food per meal, and timing of meals have been demonstrated to impact olfaction in mice and dogs. Gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota likely impacts olfaction via bidirectional communication between the GI tract and brain, and the microbiota is impacted by exercise, diet, and stress. The objective of this literature review is to discuss the specific effects of health, management, and microbiota shifts on olfactory performance in working canines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen K Jenkins
- First Year Graduate Veterinary Education Program, Public Health Activity - Fort Bragg, United States Army, Fort Bragg, NC, United States
| | - Mallory T DeChant
- Department of Animal Science, Food & Nutrition, College of Agricultural Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States
| | - Erin B Perry
- Department of Animal Science, Food & Nutrition, College of Agricultural Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States
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22
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Poupko JM, Hearn WL, Rossano F. Drug Contamination of U.S. Paper Currency and Forensic Relevance of Canine Alert to Paper Currency: A Critical Review of the Scientific Literature. J Forensic Sci 2018; 63:1340-1345. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay M. Poupko
- Biology Department Touro College 11 Beit Hadfus St. Jerusalem 95483 Israel
| | | | - Federico Rossano
- Cognitive Science Department University of California San Diego La Jolla CA 92093‐0515
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23
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Panebianco C, Kelman E, Vene K, Gioffreda D, Tavano F, Vilu R, Terracciano F, Pata I, Adamberg K, Andriulli A, Pazienza V. Cancer sniffer dogs: how can we translate this peculiarity in laboratory medicine? Results of a pilot study on gastrointestinal cancers. Clin Chem Lab Med 2017; 56:138-146. [PMID: 28590915 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2016-1158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identification of cancer biomarkers to allow early diagnosis is an urgent need for many types of tumors, whose prognosis strongly depends on the stage of the disease. Canine olfactory testing for detecting cancer is an emerging field of investigation. As an alternative, here we propose to use GC-Olfactometry (GC/O), which enables the speeding up of targeted biomarker identification and analysis. A pilot study was conducted in order to determine odor-active compounds in urine that discriminate patients with gastrointestinal cancers from control samples (healthy people). METHODS Headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME)-GC/MS and GC-olfactometry (GC/O) analysis were performed on urine samples obtained from gastrointestinal cancer patients and healthy controls. RESULTS In total, 91 key odor-active compounds were found in the urine samples. Although no odor-active biomarkers present were found in cancer carrier's urine, significant differences were discovered in the odor activities of 11 compounds in the urine of healthy and diseased people. Seven of above mentioned compounds were identified: thiophene, 2-methoxythiophene, dimethyl disulphide, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, 4-(or 5-)methyl-3-hexanone, 4-ethyl guaiacol and phenylacetic acid. The other four compounds remained unknown. CONCLUSIONS GC/O has a big potential to identify compounds not detectable using untargeted GC/MS approach. This paves the way for further research aimed at improving and validating the performance of this technique so that the identified cancer-associated compounds may be introduced as biomarkers in clinical practice to support early cancer diagnosis.
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24
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Silva L, Antunes A. Vomeronasal Receptors in Vertebrates and the Evolution of Pheromone Detection. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2017; 5:353-370. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Silva
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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25
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O'Neill DG, Packer RM. The First Canine Behavior and Genetics Conference: Summary and recommendations for future directions in canine behavioral science. J Vet Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Polgár Z, Kinnunen M, Újváry D, Miklósi Á, Gácsi M. A Test of Canine Olfactory Capacity: Comparing Various Dog Breeds and Wolves in a Natural Detection Task. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154087. [PMID: 27152412 PMCID: PMC4859551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Many dog breeds are bred specifically for increased performance in scent-based tasks. Whether dogs bred for this purpose have higher olfactory capacities than other dogs, or even wolves with whom they share a common ancestor, has not yet been studied. Indeed, there is no standard test for assessing canine olfactory ability. This study aimed to create a simple procedure that requires no pre-training and to use it to measure differences in olfactory capacity across four groups of canines: (1) dog breeds that have been selected for their scenting ability; (2) dog breeds that have been bred for other purposes; (3) dog breeds with exaggerated short-nosed features; and (4) hand-reared grey wolves. The procedure involved baiting a container with raw turkey meat and placing it under one of four identical ceramic pots. Subjects were led along the row of pots and were tasked with determining by olfaction alone which of them contained the bait. There were five levels of increasing difficulty determined by the number of holes on the container's lid. A subsample of both dogs and wolves was retested to assess reliability. The results showed that breeds selected for scent work were better than both short-nosed and non-scent breeds. In the most difficult level, wolves and scenting breeds performed better than chance, while non-scenting and short-nosed breeds did not. In the retested samples wolves improved their success; however, dogs showed no change in their performances indicating that a single test may be reliable enough to assess their capacity. Overall, we revealed measurable differences between dog breeds in their olfactory abilities and suggest that the Natural Detection Task is a good foundation for developing an efficient way of quantifying them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zita Polgár
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mari Kinnunen
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Dóra Újváry
- Institute for Wildlife Conservation, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Ádám Miklósi
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márta Gácsi
- MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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28
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Yang M, Geng GJ, Zhang W, Cui L, Zhang HX, Zheng JL. SNP genotypes of olfactory receptor genes associated with olfactory ability in German Shepherd dogs. Anim Genet 2015; 47:240-4. [PMID: 26582499 DOI: 10.1111/age.12389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
To find out the relationship between SNP genotypes of canine olfactory receptor genes and olfactory ability, 28 males and 20 females from German Shepherd dogs in police service were scored by odor detection tests and analyzed using the Beckman GenomeLab SNPstream. The representative 22 SNP loci from the exonic regions of 12 olfactory receptor genes were investigated, and three kinds of odor (human, ice drug and trinitrotoluene) were detected. The results showed that the SNP genotypes at the OR10H1-like:c.632C>T, OR10H1-like:c.770A>T, OR2K2-like:c.518G>A, OR4C11-like:c.511T>G and OR4C11-like:c.692G>A loci had a statistically significant effect on the scenting abilities (P < 0.001). The kind of odor influenced the performances of the dogs (P < 0.001). In addition, there were interactions between genotype and the kind of odor at the following loci: OR10H1-like:c.632C>T, OR10H1-like:c.770A>T, OR4C11-like:c.511T>G and OR4C11-like:c.692G>A (P < 0.001). The dogs with genotype CC at the OR10H1-like:c.632C>T, genotype AA at the OR10H1-like:c.770A>T, genotype TT at the OR4C11-like:c.511T>G and genotype GG at the OR4C11-like:c.692G>A loci did better at detecting the ice drug. We concluded that there was linkage between certain SNP genotypes and the olfactory ability of dogs and that SNP genotypes might be useful in determining dogs' scenting potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Yang
- Police-dog Technology Department, National Police University of China, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110034, China
| | - G-J Geng
- Technology Department, Shenyang Traffic Police Detachment, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China
| | - W Zhang
- Forensic Medicine Department, National Police University of China, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110854, China
| | - L Cui
- Document Inspection Department, National Police University of China, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110854, China
| | - H-X Zhang
- Mark Inspection Department, National Police University of China, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110854, China
| | - J-L Zheng
- Forensic Medicine Department, National Police University of China, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110854, China
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Pomerantz A, Blachman-Braun R, Galnares-Olalde JA, Berebichez-Fridman R, Capurso-García M. The possibility of inventing new technologies in the detection of cancer by applying elements of the canine olfactory apparatus. Med Hypotheses 2015; 85:160-72. [PMID: 25936534 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2015.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Revised: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In order to find better tools in the diagnosis of cancer in an earlier and more precise manner, researchers have explored the use of volatile organic compound (VOCs) as a way to detect this disease. Interestingly, the canine olfactory apparatus was observed to detect cancer in two anecdotal reports. After the description of these events, researchers began to study this phenomenon in a structured way in order to assess the ability of canines in detecting cancer-related VOCs. Due to the fact that some of these studies have shown that the canine olfactory apparatus is highly proficient in the detection of cancer-related VOCs, in this article we assess the possibility of constructing a bioelectronic-nose, based on canine olfactory receptors (ORs), for the purpose of diagnosing cancer in a more sensitive, specific, and cost effective manner than what is available nowadays. Furthermore, in order to prove the feasibility and the need of the proposed apparatus, we searched for the following type of articles: all of the studies that have examined, to our knowledge, the ability of dogs in detecting cancer; articles that assess the dog olfactory receptor (OR) gene repertoire, since a central part of the proposed bioelectronic nose is being able to recognize the odorant that emanates from the cancerous lesion, and for that purpose is necessary to express the canine ORs in heterologous cells; examples of articles that depict different devices that have been built for the purpose of detecting cancer-related VOCs, so as to assess if the construction of the proposed apparatus is needed; and articles that describe examples of already constructed bioelectronic noses, in order to demonstrate the existence of a technical precedent and thus the plausibility of the proposed device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Pomerantz
- Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Edo. de México, Mexico.
| | - Ruben Blachman-Braun
- Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Edo. de México, Mexico
| | | | | | - Marino Capurso-García
- Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Edo. de México, Mexico
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Taverna G, Tidu L, Grizzi F, Torri V, Mandressi A, Sardella P, La Torre G, Cocciolone G, Seveso M, Giusti G, Hurle R, Santoro A, Graziotti P. Olfactory system of highly trained dogs detects prostate cancer in urine samples. J Urol 2014; 193:1382-7. [PMID: 25264338 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.09.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We established diagnostic accuracy in terms of the sensitivity and specificity with which a rigorously trained canine olfactory system could recognize specific volatile organic compounds of prostate cancer in urine samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two 3-year-old female German Shepherd Explosion Detection Dogs were trained to identify prostate cancer specific volatile organic compounds in urine samples. They were tested on 362 patients with prostate cancer (range low risk to metastatic) and on 540 healthy controls with no nonneoplastic disease or nonprostatic tumor. This cross-sectional design for diagnostic accuracy was performed at a single Italian teaching hospital and at the Italian Ministry of Defense Military Veterinary Center. RESULTS For dog 1 sensitivity was 100% (95% CI 99.0-100.0) and specificity was 98.7% (95% CI 97.3-99.5). For dog 2 sensitivity was 98.6% (95% CI 96.8-99.6) and specificity was 97.6% (95% CI 95.9-98.7). When considering only men older than 45 years in the control group, dog 1 achieved 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity (95% CI 96-99.2), and dog 2 achieved 98.6% sensitivity (95% CI 96.8-99.6) and 96.4% specificity (95% CI 93.9-98.1). Analysis of false-positive cases revealed no consistent pattern in participant demographics or tumor characteristics. CONCLUSIONS A trained canine olfactory system can detect prostate cancer specific volatile organic compounds in urine samples with high estimated sensitivity and specificity. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential predictive value of this procedure to identify prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorenzo Tidu
- Italian Ministry of Defense Military Veterinary Center, Grosseto, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Grizzi
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valter Torri
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Sardella
- Italian Ministry of Defense Military Veterinary Center, Grosseto, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe La Torre
- Italian Ministry of Defense Military Veterinary Center, Grosseto, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Seveso
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Giusti
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Hurle
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Armando Santoro
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Barrios AW, Sánchez-Quinteiro P, Salazar I. Dog and mouse: toward a balanced view of the mammalian olfactory system. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:106. [PMID: 25309347 PMCID: PMC4174761 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the most intensively studied mammalian olfactory system is that of the mouse, in which olfactory chemical cues of one kind or another are detected in four different nasal areas [the main olfactory epithelium (MOE), the septal organ (SO), Grüneberg's ganglion, and the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO)], the extraordinarily sensitive olfactory system of the dog is also an important model that is increasingly used, for example in genomic studies of species evolution. Here we describe the topography and extent of the main olfactory and vomeronasal sensory epithelia of the dog, and we report finding no structures equivalent to the Grüneberg ganglion and SO of the mouse. Since we examined adults, newborns, and fetuses we conclude that these latter structures are absent in dogs, possibly as the result of regression or involution. The absence of a vomeronasal component based on VR2 receptors suggests that the VNO may be undergoing a similar involutionary process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ignacio Salazar
- Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Anatomy and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de CompostelaLugo, Spain
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32
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Jezierski T, Adamkiewicz E, Walczak M, Sobczyńska M, Górecka-Bruzda A, Ensminger J, Papet E. Efficacy of drug detection by fully-trained police dogs varies by breed, training level, type of drug and search environment. Forensic Sci Int 2014; 237:112-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 01/11/2014] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Caniglia R, Fabbri E, Galaverni M, Milanesi P, Randi E. Noninvasive sampling and genetic variability, pack structure, and dynamics in an expanding wolf population. J Mammal 2014. [DOI: 10.1644/13-mamm-a-039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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34
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Genetic structure and expansion of golden jackals (Canis aureus) in the north-western distribution range (Croatia and eastern Italian Alps). CONSERV GENET 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-013-0530-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
The selection of foods to eat is a complex interplay of vision, taste, smell, and texture. In addition to micro- and macronutrients, plant-based foods also contain several classes of phytochemicals. In many cases, the phytochemicals account for the various colors of foods. Although aesthetically pleasing, the color of foods may mislead consumers as to their phytochemical content, which is particularly true with regard to polyphenols. Polyphenols are a broad class of compounds with antioxidant and other health benefits. Human vision is limited to a small window (390-765 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. Many important phytochemicals (e.g., vitamin C) have no absorbance in this range. Therefore, the human eye cannot directly judge the vitamin C content of foods. Being able to see in the ultraviolet range allows bees to locate the pollen-rich region of flowers, whereas pit vipers locate their prey by being able to "see" them in the infrared range. Assessing the impact of phytochemicals on human health depends on several factors. Colorless phytochemicals in unprocessed foods may be lost during the cooking process because no visual guide exists to ensure their retention. The molecular structures of phytochemicals influence the extent to which they are altered by cooking processes and the methods by which they are absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Extensive metabolism by phase I/II enzymes and by the gut microbiome may also create compounds that the eye is never allowed to appreciate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Barnes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Targeted Metabolomics and Proteomics Laboratory, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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36
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Bensky MK, Gosling SD, Sinn DL. The World from a Dog’s Point of View. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-407186-5.00005-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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