Narrative review of isothermal amplification techniques for diagnostics in livestock and companion animals

Prompt pathogen detection is critical in protecting public health, improving animal health, welfare, food safety, and food security in both food-producing and companion animals. Although conventional and molecular diagnostic methods are highly effective, they often require expensive instrumentation, specialized laboratory infrastructure, and trained personnel, limiting their applicability in field and resource-limited settings. Isothermal amplification technologies have emerged in recent times as powerful alternatives to conventional PCR-based methods, offering rapid, sensitive and user-friendly nucleic acid detection without the need for thermocycling equipment. The present review summarizes recent advances in isothermal amplification methods and their applications in the detection of pathogens in livestock and companion animals. It also highlights innovations in assay design, improvements in analytics, and their incorporation into portable and field-deployable detection platforms. Furthermore, the review explores the challenges and future directions for the application of these technologies in routine veterinary diagnostics and integrated disease surveillance programs.