Veterinary medicine
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Researchers link dolphin deaths to Deepwater Horizon oil spill
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Dolphins found stranded on Gulf of Mexico beaches following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill were much more likely to have severe lung and adrenal gland damage “consistent with petroleum product exposure” than dolphins stranded elsewhere and prior to the spill, researchers report. One in five dolphins from the spill zone also […]
BPA exposure in pregnant mice affects fertility in three generations
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – When scientists exposed pregnant mice to levels of bisphenol A equivalent to those considered safe in humans, three generations of female mouse offspring experienced significant reproductive problems, including declines in fertility, sexual maturity and pregnancy success, the scientists report in the journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. Bisphenol A, an industria l chemical, […]
Cancer drug first tested in pet dogs begins human trials
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A new drug that prompts cancer cells to self-destruct while sparing healthy cells is now entering phase I clinical trials in humans. The drug, called PAC-1, first showed promise in the treatment of pet dogs with spontaneously occurring cancers, and is still in clinical trials in dogs with osteosarcoma. “The compound was […]
In Illinois, muskrats and minks harbor toxoplasmosis, a cat disease
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A new study of muskrats and minks in central Illinois indicates that toxoplasmosis, a disease spread by cats, is moving rapidly through the landscape and contaminating local waterways. Researchers found antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, in 18 of 30 muskrats and 20 of 26 minks tested for the […]
New drug compounds show promise against endometriosis
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Two new drug compounds – one of which has already proven useful in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis – appear to be effective in treating endometriosis, a disorder that, like MS, is driven by estrogen and inflammation, scientists report in Science Translational Medicine. The researchers hope to eventually use the new […]
Flu at the zoo and other disasters: Experts help animal exhibitors prepare for the worst
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Here are three disaster scenarios for zoo or aquarium managers: One, a wildfire lunges towards your facility, threatening your staff and hundreds of zoo animals. Two, hurricane floodwaters pour into your basement, where more than 10,000 exotic fish and marine mammals live in giant tanks. Three, local poultry farmers report avian influenza […]
Scientists gear up to fight deadly snake fungal disease
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Researchers have developed a faster and more accurate way to test for infection with Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, a fungus that is killing snakes in the Midwest and eastern United States. The test also allows scientists to monitor the progression of the infection in living snakes. The researchers reported on the test at the […]
Rabbits kept indoors could be vitamin D deficient
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Rabbits that remain indoors may suffer from a lack of vitamin D, researchers report in a new study. In rabbits kept as pets or used in laboratory studies, the deficiency could lead to dental problems, undermine their cardiovascular health, weaken their immune systems and skew scientific findings. The study found that regular […]
‘Bad cholesterol’ indicates an amino acid deficiency, researcher says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad cholesterol” that doctors consider a sign of potential heart disease, is merely a marker of a diet lacking all of the essential amino acids, says University of Illinois comparative biosciences professor Fred Kummerow, 99, a longtime opponent of the medical establishment’s war on cholesterol. While writing about […]
Cellphone technology helps horses recover from surgery
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Technology that’s used in smartphones and other electronic devices also is being used by veterinarians at the University of Illinois to help horses recover safely from anesthesia. Accelerometers – portable data recorders that capture information on motion, vibration and impact – are frequently affixed to shipping containers when transporting delicate scientific instruments […]
U. of I. designated one of first Veterinary Trauma Centers
The small animal emergency service at the U. of I. Veterinary Teaching Hospital is one of nine U.S. veterinary hospitals and clinics to be provisionally designated as a Veterinary Trauma Center by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. The new designation is part of an initiative to improve treatment outcomes of animal […]
‘Mouse trap’ allows vets to make faster diagnoses, without anesthesia
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Advancements in the use of computed tomography (also known as CT) imaging by researchers at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital are enabling them to diagnose life-threatening conditions in dogs and cats faster, dramatically affecting the course, outcomes and costs of treatment. With faster diagnoses, aggressive, appropriate treatment can begin within […]