February 14, 2013 - White nose syndrome continues worrisome spread through bat caves

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February 14, 2013 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise News for animal health professionals   Veterinary Medicine Update    White nose syndrome continues worrisome spread through bat caves The deadly fungus known as white nose syndrome is continuing its spread across the U.S. The disease has been found in three out of 30 bat caves in Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, officials said Wednesday, and because bats move between the caves, they are likely to spread the fungus farther. The disease has killed more than 5.5 million bats across North America since it was discovered in New York state in 2006. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Green blog (2/13)      Hantavirus may have started with bats, study shows Researchers have identified four new forms of hantavirus, and they determined that the deadly pathogen may have originated in bats rather than rats or other rodents as originally thought, according to new research. Although the research does not advance treatment of hantavirus, researchers said it makes important public health contributions. "The analysis shows that bats are likely to be important hosts from which new hantaviruses may emerge in the future and possibly pass to humans," said Australian researcher Eddie Holmes. The Australian (tiered subscription model) (2/14)      View AVMA's One Health resources       Diversity in the pond protects amphibian health, study shows Ponds that boast a wide variety of frogs, toads and other amphibians provide better protection for the group from parasites that can cause deformities, according to research from the University of Colorado Boulder. The research may have broader implications regarding the connection between biodiversity and diseases, including those that can sicken humans, such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus. ScienceDaily (2/13)      China, Cambodia see H5N1 fatalities A 3-year-old girl is the sixth person in Cambodia confirmed dead this year from the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old woman in Southwest China also died of the disease. The Washington Times/The Associated Press (2/13), SeattlePI.com/The Associated Press (2/12)      Other News African elephant study sheds light on importance of maternal care BBC (2/12)      The AVMA GHLIT will be hosting its Wellness Center at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas, February 18-20. Make sure you stop by for your health screening! Click here for more information, including details on how to schedule your appointment in advance.   Animal News    Westminster's winning dog makes guest appearance in stage show Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Best in Show winner Banana Joe was scheduled to take his place on the Broadway stage Wednesday night. The winning affenpinscher replaced Macaco in a single performance of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Culture Monster blog (2/14)      The oddest of odd couples: Dogs and cheetahs In an effort to draw attention to the plight of cheetahs, whose numbers are rapidly declining in the wild due to habitat loss and poaching, some zoos and cheetah breeding programs pair the big cats with canine companions. Wild cheetahs also benefit from dogs such as Anatolian shepherds that help keep cheetahs away from livestock, reducing conflict with farmers. "It's a love story of one species helping another species survive," said Jack Grisham of the Saint Louis Zoo. Grisham coordinates the species survival plan for cheetahs in North America. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration)/The Associated Press (2/12)      Other News Scientists float supplemental feeding of polar bears The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model)/The Canadian Press (2/12)      Gorilla that lost baby last year may be pregnant, zoo officials say Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (2/14)      THE APP YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! Get your patient's results in the palm of your hands at the WVC ANTECH Diagnostics booth #1157. Live demos and exclusive gift for the first 250 downloads. The new ANTECH OnLine is here!   Around the Office    How to perk up your company culture Keep your employees motivated by setting aside time for innovation and by giving them an opportunity to voice their concerns, writes Kevin Daum. "Structured complaint sessions will act like a pressure-release valve," he writes. You could also spruce up the office with some art, encourage your employees to make videos about your company or give out chocolate. Inc. online (free registration)/Roaring or Boring blog (2/12)      IBM Edge2013 — June 10-14, Las Vegas • Over 400+ technical sessions and hands on labs • Sessions on Smarter Computing innovations and real-world success stories • World class certification available on-site • A comprehensive Solution Center giving you access to the latest storage, System x and PureSystems solutions from IBM and our sponsors. Register for Edge2013 today.   Association News  Butterflies in your stomach this Valentine's? Or is that the norovirus? Just imagine — it's Valentine's Day and you and your special someone are about to enjoy a nice dinner together. There's a little music playing, soft candlelight, and you even have butterflies in your stomach ... or at least that's what you think they are, until you start feeling nauseated. Before you panic thinking that you are repulsed by your significant other, we're here to tell you that you may have what is going around — a new strain of the norovirus. Read more at AVMA's Keep Our Food Safe blog.      Learn more about the AVMA -> AVMA.org | AVMA@Work | AVMA on YouTube | AVMF.org | A2Z | Keep Our Food Safe   SmartQuote  Mistakes are part of the dues that one pays for a full life." --Sophia Loren, Italian actress        The news summaries appearing in Animal Health SmartBrief are based on original information from news organizations and are produced by SmartBrief, Inc., an independent e-mail newsletter publisher. The AVMA is not responsible for the content of sites that are external to the AVMA. Linking to a website does not constitute an endorsement by the AVMA of the site or the information presented on the site. 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