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News you need to know  Top
Saved by ... swine
This is no pig in a poke. These pigs may actually one day save us humans from the poke – the poke of a needle that is. With the H1N1 virus creating fears that this fall's flu season could be one of the worst on record, scientists are working on everything from vaccines to how to test for the virus. Drs. Bob Rowland and Dick Hesse, veterinarians at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, are working with the New York State Department of Health to improve the ways in which the H1N1 virus is identified. Their latest efforts include a diagnostic method for pigs that analyzes saliva rather than blood. This less-invasive collection procedure for pigs may lead to the same type of testing for people. For more information, contact Joe Montgomery at 785-532-4193 or jmontgom@vet.k-state.edu.
Tussling with tumors
Maintaining a strong immune system is a key weapon in a person's fight against cancer, and researchers at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences are working hard to give our immune systems a boost. The researchers are investigating the impact a class of drugs has on cells that suppress the immune system and allow for tumor growth. So far, the results are encouraging, with studies in dogs showing that the treatment approach is shrinking tumors or stopping their growth. Such early success, the researchers say, will provide important insights into developing new ways to fight many different types of tumors. For more information, contact Dell Rae Moellenberg at 970-491-6009 or DellRae.Moellenberg@colostate.edu.
Is good for you good for the moos?
Do dairy cows really care about the organic movement? People might like their food free of fertilizers, antibiotics and hormones. But how do the cows fare in all of this? An ongoing study being conducted on 300 dairy farms in three states is looking at herd health on both organic and conventional dairy farms to determine if one is really better than the other when it comes to cow health and welfare. The investigators, many of whom are veterinarians, say the study may be the largest research project on organic milk production ever conducted on U.S. dairy farms. For more information, contact David Kirkpatrick at the American Veterinary Medical Association at 847-285-6782.
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Rabies, cats and public health
While reported cases of rabies in the United States dropped in 2008, veterinarians and public health officials warn that an increase in the number of reported rabies cases in cats poses a risk to both animals and people. A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Sept. 15, 2009, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, shows that the number of rabies cases in cats is on the rise, climbing from 262 reported cases in 2007 to 294 in 2008. Cats lead the list of domestic animals with reported cases of rabies, far outpacing the 93 cases of rabies reported in dogs. The simple act of vaccinating a pet provides protection to the animal and the humans with whom it may come in contact, and veterinarians are urging pet owners to make sure that their pets are vaccinated. For more information, contact David Kirkpatrick at 847-285-6782.
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World Rabies Day, Sept. 28, 2009: Communities across the globe will celebrate the third annual World Rabies Day, an event supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alliance for Rabies Control and many others. The event will increase knowledge of the disease and raise awareness that rabies, while responsible for killing more than 55,000 people each year, is preventable. For more information, go to www.makerabieshistory.org or contact David Kirkpatrick at 847-285-6782.
National Pet Wellness Month, Oct. 1, 2009 – Oct. 31, 2009: By age 2, most pets have already reached adulthood. Many enter middle age at 4. By age 7, many dogs, particularly larger breeds, are considered "senior." That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health have joined forces since 2004 to urge pet owners to stay on top of their pet's health. National Pet Wellness Month helps raise awareness about the pet aging process, disease prevention and the importance of twice-a-year wellness exams for all cats and dogs. For more information, go to www.npwm.com.
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