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Open research questions in Animal health and immunology

166 gap statements mined from Animal health and immunology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 787 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • One challenge is the limited number of cases of failure of passive transfer, which may affect the accuracy of the results. Another challenge is the need for a reference method that can accurately diagnose failure of passive transfer. The study also faces the challenge of evaluating the performance of different parameters in diagnosing failure of passive transfer.

    Exploratory Evaluation of Refractometric, Biochemical, and Body Weight Change Parameters for Diagnosing Failure of Passive Transfer in Puppies · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to minimize or eliminate the side effects of 5-FU. The current study aims to investigate the protective effect of bovine colostrum against 5-FU-induced toxicity.

    Pathological Investigation of the Effect of Bovine Colostrum Against 5-FU-Induced Liver, Kidney, and Heart Toxicity in Rats · 2025 · DOI

  • Limited understanding of the measurement of BHB and NEFAs in bovine saliva. Technical challenges in validating commercial methods for measuring BHB and NEFAs in bovine saliva. Difficulty in collecting and analyzing saliva samples from dairy cows.

    Validation of the Measurement of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate and Non-Esterified Fatty Acids in Bovine Saliva: A Pilot Report · 2025 · DOI

  • Current conventional vaccines have limitations, including suboptimal immunogenicity and frequent booster requirements. There is a need for a novel vaccine platform that can provide sustained humoral immunity against economically significant pathogens.

    A Novel Composite Vaccine Combining Inactivated Antigen and IgY Elicits Sustained Humoral Immunity Against FAdV-4 Viruses and PEDV Viruses · 2025 · DOI

  • The need to ensure the welfare of laying hens used for immunization. The challenge of evaluating the efficacy of IgY antibodies against multiple pathogenic bacteria.

    The Passive Immunoprotective Activity Using Egg Yolk IgY Antibodies of Live or Inactivated Aeromonas veronii Against Major Pathogenic Bacteria (A. veronii and A. hydrophila) in Fish · 2025 · DOI

  • The current lack of effective and cost-efficient methods for protecting fish against A. veronii and A. hydrophila. The need for a large-scale and cost-effective solution for the aquaculture industry. The potential of IgY antibodies as a passive immunotherapy against multiple pathogenic bacteria.

    The Passive Immunoprotective Activity Using Egg Yolk IgY Antibodies of Live or Inactivated Aeromonas veronii Against Major Pathogenic Bacteria (A. veronii and A. hydrophila) in Fish · 2025 · DOI

  • The gap is that there is a need for strategies to improve the productivity of the production system.

    Effect of an Ultra-Diluted Complex on Health, Growth Performance, and Blood Parameters of Pre-Weaned Dairy Calves · 2025 · DOI

  • One challenge is the complexity of the relationship between calcium dysregulation and acute phase responses. Another challenge is the need to control for various factors, such as parity and farm, when analyzing the data.

    Acute phase responses in clinically healthy multiparous Holsteins with and without calcium dysregulation during the early postpartum period · 2024 · DOI

  • Upon arrival at calf-rearing facilities and feedlots, clear guidance is lacking on optimal pre- and postweaning diets, implant and vaccination programs, and antimicrobial use.

    Invited review: The expanding dairy-beef calf industry-Challenges and opportunities in prefeedlot nutrition, health, and welfare · 2026 · DOI

  • An increasing proportion of calves entering the beef industry originate from dairy herds, representing a rapidly growing component of the global protein supply chain; however, best practices for their nutrition and health management remain poorly defined, particularly during early life.

    Invited review: The expanding dairy-beef calf industry-Challenges and opportunities in prefeedlot nutrition, health, and welfare · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies investigating the impact of colostral fat content under different environmental conditions are warranted.

    Colostral fat content modulates glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in neonatal calves exposed to cold temperatures · 2026 · DOI

  • Although colostral fat content is known to vary considerably among cows, its specific effect on postnatal metabolic adaptation in calves under cold conditions has not been well characterized.

    Colostral fat content modulates glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in neonatal calves exposed to cold temperatures · 2026 · DOI

  • The association between birth induction and colostrum IgG concentration was attenuated after adjustment for gestation length, but evidence of a trend towards an association remained, suggesting a potential relationship that warrants further investigation.

    Influence of sow, farrowing, and environmental factors on colostrum immunoglobulin G concentration in free-farrowing sows · 2026 · DOI

  • C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major acute-phase protein in dogs, but its clinical relevance in dogs with acute vomiting in primary care remains poorly defined.

    C-reactive protein concentrations, clinical presentation, and short-term outcome in dogs with acute vomiting: a retrospective primary care cohort · 2026 · DOI

  • Decades of research have helped inform practices on how to care for calves, but little is known about how well these practices are adopted on commercial dairy farms.

    Milk feeding and calf housing practices on British Columbia dairy farms · 2025 · DOI

  • However, it is not well understood how IgG concentration changes over the first week of life.

    Evaluating the change in immunoglobulin G and accuracy of assessing transfer of passive immunity during the first 7 days of age in Holstein dairy calves fed colostrum replacer · 2025 · DOI

  • Sialyllactose (SL) and its derivatives possess various nutritional and biological benefits for mammals, but its effects on dairy calves have not been well characterized.

    Supplementing sialyllactose to colostrum replacer improved intestinal health and blood immunity by affecting the abundance of intestinal bacteria in dairy calves · 2025 · DOI

  • Although previous studies have linked waste milk feeding to changes in calf growth and health during the preweaning period, its effects postweaning remain unclear.

    Effects of feeding a simulated waste milk on growth, health, fecal microbiota, and antibiotic resistance in dairy heifer calves · 2025 · DOI

  • Our results highlight that early-life management practices are linked with herd longevity, productivity, and profitability, but further research is needed to understand the underlying factors contributing to these associations and to guide dairy farmers in making informed management decisions.

    Early-life management practices and their association with dairy herd longevity, productivity, and profitability · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating the effects of BC on other chemotherapeutic agents, - Examining the long-term effects of BC on 5-FU-induced toxicity, - Studying the mechanisms by which BC exerts its protective…

    Pathological Investigation of the Effect of Bovine Colostrum Against 5-FU-Induced Liver, Kidney, and Heart Toxicity in Rats · 2025 · DOI

  • Further evaluation of the IgY-antigen co-immunization strategy in other animal models, - Investigation of the mechanism of action of the IgY-antigen complex, - Development of new vaccine formulations using the dual-component platform, - Assessment of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in larger animal…

    A Novel Composite Vaccine Combining Inactivated Antigen and IgY Elicits Sustained Humoral Immunity Against FAdV-4 Viruses and PEDV Viruses · 2025 · DOI

  • In vivo or ex vivo tests, - Clinical trials, - Evaluation of the efficacy of the formulation in enhancing skin hydration, anti-aging, and soothing…

    Potential of Encapsulated Bovine Colostrum in Powder-Based Formulations for Facial Clay, Peel-Off Gel, and Sleeping Gel Masks · 2025 · DOI

  • Future studies should employ age-matched or stratified sampling, - Studies should be conducted to more accurately quantify the independent effect of CRP and CAR on systemic…

    Predictive Prognosis Value of CRP Measurement and CAR in Dogs Infected with Parvovirus · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigate causal structures underlying relationships between dyscalcemia and disease, decreased feed intake, poor production outcomes, and depressed reproductive efficiency, - Examine the pattern of normal postpartum LBP concentrations, - Study the relationship between inflammatory activation and dyscalcemia…

    Acute phase responses in clinically healthy multiparous Holsteins with and without calcium dysregulation during the early postpartum period · 2024 · DOI

  • This review evaluates current evidence on Phe as a biomarker across species, highlights gaps in research coverage and methodology, and outlines priorities for future work.

    Phenylalanine as a biomarker of disease in animals: Current evidence and future perspectives · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Animal health and immunology

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Upon arrival at calf-rearing facilities and feedlots, clear guidance is lacking on optimal pre- and postweaning diets, implant and vaccination programs, and antimicrobial use (“Invited review: The expanding dairy-beef calf industry-Challenges and…”, 2026); (2) Further studies investigating the impact of colostral fat content under different environmental conditions are warranted (“Colostral fat content modulates glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in…”, 2026); (3) There is a need to minimize or eliminate the side effects of 5-FU (“Pathological Investigation of the Effect of Bovine Colostrum Against…”, 2025); (4) There is a need for a novel vaccine platform that can provide sustained humoral immunity against economically significant pathogens (“A Novel Composite Vaccine Combining Inactivated Antigen and IgY Elicits…”, 2025); (5) The current lack of effective and cost-efficient methods for protecting fish against A. veronii and A. hydrophila (“The Passive Immunoprotective Activity Using Egg Yolk IgY Antibodies of Live or…”, 2025). 166 gap statements have been mined from Animal health and immunology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 787 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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