Ebola virus: from wildlife to dogs
Since 1976 the Ebola virus has caused some lethal human epidemics in Central Africa. Research now indicates that humans do not become directly contaminated from the animal reservoir, which is an any case still unknown, but from infected carcasses of chimpanzees, gorillas and certain forest antelopes. Results have come from work conducted over the past several years by IRD scientists and their par...Virologist finds contagious equine flu in dogs
A Cornell University virologist has isolated a highly contagious equine flu virus that is spreading a sometimes-fatal respiratory flu among dogs, and is responsible for a major dog-flu outbreak in New York state. There is no evidence that the virus could infect people. According to a paper published in the Sept. 26 issue of Science Express (Vol. 309, No. 5743), the online version of Scien...Visceral Leishmaniasis: Successful Vaccine Trial In Dogs
Visceral leishmaniasis, which is the most severe form of that group of diseases, affects 500 000 people in the world each year. It is caused by a protozoan, Leishmania infantum, transmitted by sand fly bites. There is no vaccine for this disease, which can rapidly lead to death if no treatment is given. In the most heavily affected areas, the dog population is hit heavily by infection. It acts as...Underdogs in the understory: Study suggests nature favors rarer trees
A study of seven tropical forests around the world has revealed that nature encourages biodiversity by favoring the growth of less common trees. The landmark study, conducted by 33 ecologists from 12 countries and published in the Jan. 27 issue of the journal Science, conclusively demonstrates that diversity matters and has ecological importance to tropical forests. Helene Muller-Landau, a...Dogs keep dying: Many owners unaware of toxic dog food
Even though Diamond, Country Value and Professional brand dog foods have been recalled for containing highly toxic aflatoxins, they have caused at least 100 dog deaths in recent weeks, say Cornell University veterinarians, who are growing increasingly alarmed. Some kennels and consumers around the nation and possibly in more than two dozen other countries remain unaware of the tainted food, and a...Seizures in Children , Sensed By Dogs
A new study shows dogs may be able to anticipate seizures in children with epilepsy.The most common response behavior from the dogs in this study was // licking, often of the face, followed by decreased motor activity, whimpering, and “protective" behavior without aggression. In previous studies, owners of seizure-sensitive dogs reported that licking may abort or even prevent their seizu...Rodents to be replaced with Dogs for cancer Research
Researchers from National Cancer Institute, US is to start testing their drug efficacy trial on dogs as the researchers feel that drug metabolize, enzyme kinetics and drug action mechanisms in dogs are similar to humans than that of rodents//. Dr. Chand Khanna, Veterinary Oncologist said, “It turns out that many cancers, such as lymphoma, melanoma and osteosarcoma, are well represente...