Veterinary medicine
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Repurposed anti-malarial compounds kill diarrheal parasite, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A class of compounds used for malaria treatment also kill the intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium, a leading cause of diarrheal disease and death in children that has no cure, a multi-institution collaboration of researchers found in a new study. The compounds, called bicyclic azetidines, specifically target an enzyme responsible for protein production within […]
Blood markers predict Humboldt penguin nest type, reproductive success
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — From March to December every year, Humboldt penguins nest in vast colonies on the Peruvian and Chilean coasts. The lucky ones find prime habitat for their nests in deep deposits of chalky guano where they can dig out sheltered burrows. The rest must look for rocky outcrops or other protected spaces that […]
Environmental contaminants alter gut microbiome, health
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The microbes that inhabit our bodies are influenced by what we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through our skin, and most of us are chronically exposed to natural and human-made environmental contaminants. In a new paper, scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign review the research linking dozens of environmental chemicals […]
Veterinary infectious disease expert weighs in on coronavirus threat
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Influenza, SARS and COVID-19 are all zoonotic diseases, readily transmitted from animals to humans. The viruses that cause these diseases also share traits that allow them to quickly mutate, infect widely and spread around the world. In a new podcast, a veterinarian and expert in zoonotic diseases offers insights into the special […]
Veterinarians: Dogs, too, can experience hearing loss
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just like humans, dogs are sometimes born with impaired hearing or experience hearing loss as a result of disease, inflammation, aging or exposure to noise. Dog owners and K-9 handlers ought to keep this in mind when adopting or caring for dogs, and when bringing them into noisy environments, says Dr. Kari […]
What is the coronavirus spreading across the globe?
Editor’s note: The first case of a novel strain of coronavirus has been confirmed in the United States. The respiratory illness, which can cause pneumonia and other symptoms, was first reported in Wuhan, China, where hundreds have been sickened and at least 18 have died. Leyi Wang, a virologist and professor of veterinary medicine at […]
Team finds bovine kobuvirus in US
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A virus that afflicts cattle that was first discovered in Japan in 2003 has made its way to the U.S., researchers report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. Bovine kobuvirus is fairly new to science, so its ill effects are not fully understood. It belongs to a family of viruses known as […]
New approach uses light to stabilize proteins for study
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Researchers have developed a new technique that uses light to control the lifetime of a protein inside the cell. This method will allow scientists to better observe how specific proteins contribute to health, development and disease. Previous techniques for controlling protein levels involved adding chemicals that degrade specific proteins, said University of […]
Prescribing oral opioids for dogs likely doesn’t help them, veterinary experts say
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Sending ailing dogs home with oral opioids may not be an effective way to manage their pain, experts report in a free, online continuing education program recently developed for veterinarians. In light of growing evidence that such drugs don’t work well in dogs – added to the fact that humans sometimes abuse […]
Dog down: Effort helps emergency medical staff treat law enforcement K-9s
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Recognizing a gap in care for law enforcement K-9s injured on the job, a team of veterinarians, emergency medical services experts and canine handlers has developed protocols for emergency medical service personnel who may be called upon to help treat and transport the injured dogs. The protocols appear in a special report […]
Does more rain mean more risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Illinois?
Editor’s note: Experts have ranked May 2019 as one of the wettest Mays on record in central Illinois. Is it possible that the incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses increases with the amount of rainfall? To find out, News Bureau science writer Ananya Sen asked Brian F. Allan, an entomology professor at the University of Illinois. […]
Cilia beat to an unexpected rhythm in male reproductive tract, study in mice reveals
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Waves of undulating cilia drive several processes essential to life. They clear debris and mucus from the respiratory tract, move spinal fluid through the brain and transport embryos from the ovaries to the uterus for implantation. According to a new study in mice, however, cilia perform somewhat differently in the male reproductive […]