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Do pets carry the "superbug"?
Could pets and their owners, particularly owners who work in human or animal health-care facilities, be sharing something dangerous? Dr. Stephanie Kottler and a team of researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine are investigating whether animals can harbor the "superbug" – or MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) – especially those animals living in the homes of health-care workers. For more information, contact Dr. Kottler at kottlers@missouri.edu.

Avian virus enlisted in fight against prostate cancer
A virus often fatal to birds may help fight the ravages of prostate cancer. Drs. Elankurmaran Subbiah and Siba Samal of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine are the first to use a genetically modified variant of the avian Newcastle disease virus to target and kill prostate cancer cells. Drs. Subbiah and Samal believe their approach to treating prostate cancer may pave the way for innovative treatment approaches for other types of cancer. For more information, contact Jeffrey Douglas at jdouglas@vt.edu.

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The 'essentials' of health
Just as their human owners use omega-3s and omega-6s for a healthier "me," dogs with skin and coat problems can also benefit from having more essential fatty acids in their diet, according to a study appearing in the June 1 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Researchers are learning that what a dog looks like on the outside is likely an indication of what is going on in the inside, says Dr. John Bauer, a professor of clinical nutrition at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, contact David Kirkpatrick at (847) 285-6782. Go to http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/pdf/10.2460/javma.230.11.1641 for a copy of the study.

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A sampling of interesting upcoming events and pet-related campaigns ...

American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention, July 14, 2007 – July 18, 2007: More than 4,000 veterinary leaders in food safety, public health, comparative medicine, research and companion animal medicine will attend the AVMA's 144th annual convention in Washington, D.C. A cornerstone of the convention will be how to better protect the public from emerging and zoonotic diseases, how to safeguard our nation's food supply and what can be learned from the recent national pet food recall. For more on the convention and its roster of speakers, go to http://avmaconvention.org.