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News you need to know  Top
The eyes have it
Loyal soldiers to the end, dogs may one day help in treating eye disorders in people. Veterinarians and physicians are now looking deeper into the eyes of animals with the assistance of the latest generation of retinal imaging equipment, thanks to funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. With the new technology at their disposal, researchers at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, along with physicians from the VA and the University of Iowa, hope to better diagnose and treat glaucoma and degenerative and traumatic optic nerve diseases in both animals and people, particularly those occurring in veterans and active military personnel. For more information, contact Tracy Raef at 515-294-4602 or traef@iastate.edu.
Breaking the chain
How come the mosquito's the "lucky one"? For years, researchers have wondered how mosquitoes can contract the dengue virus but not become ill. They now have some answers. Researchers at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences have discovered that mosquitoes that transmit deadly viruses such as dengue avoid becoming ill from the virus by mounting a potent immune response that prevents them from falling ill but still allows them to pass the virus on. The next step for researchers is finding a way to interrupt the growth of the dengue virus within the mosquito before it's transmitted. For more information, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at 970-491-6009 or DellRae.Moellenberg@colostate.edu.
Draining flu's effects
When it comes to the human body fending off the flu, a little bit of fluid in the lungs is a good thing, helping a person generate a productive cough. Too much fluid, however, can be a bad thing – a really bad thing. New research conducted at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine suggests that the influenza virus can tip the balance toward too much fluid in the lungs, interfering with the supply of oxygen to the rest of the body – and possibly leading to death. Researchers say detailing exactly how the flu interferes with getting rid of the fluid lays the groundwork to test a treatment for regulating that fluid buildup. For more information, contact Kristine McComis at 614-688-3517 or mccomis.2@osu.edu.
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Veterinarian shortage "sobering, frightening"
An alarming new report from the United States Government Accountability Office details a dangerous shortage of veterinarians available to fill critical positions in the federal government. Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recently testified on Capitol Hill that the federal veterinary shortage described in the report could have profound effects on animal and public health. DeHaven said it is alarming to see how ill-prepared the nation appears to be in the event of a pandemic, and he urged members of Congress to help bolster the ranks of a profession that is critically important to food safety, public health and national security. For more information, contact David Kirkpatrick at 847-285-6782.
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A sampling of interesting upcoming events and pet-related campaigns ...
American Animal Hospital Association Annual Conference, March 26, 2009 – March 29, 2009: Companion-animal veterinarians from around the country gather in Phoenix, Ariz., to explore the hottest issues facing the veterinary industry. For more information, go to www.aahanet.org.
American Board of Veterinary Practitioners Annual Symposium, April 16, 2009 – April 19, 2009: Diplomates certified in species-specific medicine will learn the latest on treating birds, food animals, horses, cats and dogs during a meeting in Austin, Texas. For more information, go to www.abvp.com.
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