The Rotten Egg

By: Kendra Bauer

University of Wisconsin, Class of 2013

During my summer working as a Merck-Merial summer scholar at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, I had the opportunity to participate in a lot of clinical procedures in addition to working on my research project. The following is an excerpt from my daily log of my experiences that summer:

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I'm Going to the Vet!

That's so Punny!

By: Stephanie Silberstang

Cornell University, Class of 2013

And now, for an immunology joke:

What does a pathogen do when it meets another pathogen?

It takes off its PAMPs!

Special Species Symposium 2011

Cornell’s Zoo and Wildlife Society would like to welcome you to Special Species 2011!  They are very excited about this year’s line-up.  Collaborating with several other student organizations, they have introduced some new themes including exotic and wildlife behavior, and a special public health outbreak response module.  They hope to highlight some of the emerging roles of veterinarians in both domestic and international society, and keep attendees on the cutting edge of this movement. Students have been hard at work putting things together, and they can’t wait for you to join them for what promises to be one of the most exciting symposiums yet! Lecture topics include pocket pets, wildlife and conservation medicine and the wetlabs include almost every species imaginable!

Registration is due by April 1st for only $60 for lectures, $80 for lectures and wetlabs. Check out their website for more information. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/students/ZAWS/Welcome.html

Association between Salmonella sp. and Yersinia enterocolitica infection in swine

By: Erin Shaw

Michigan State University, Class of 2013

Shaw, Erin; Funk, Julie; Plovanich-Jones, Anne E.; College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824

Swine are known reservoirs for both Salmonella and Yersinia enterocolitica. Both are foodborne pathogens and can result in zoonotic disease if contamination of pork products occurs during harvest.  The epidemiology of Y. enterocolitica and Salmonella in swine is not well understood, and cost-effective preharvest control measures have not been identified. Previous reports from experimental studies in mice suggest that, via quorum-sensing, Salmonella detects Y. enterocolitica signals, increasing Salmonella colonization (Dyszel et al, 2009). This may present an opportunity for preharvest control via targeting Y. enterocolitica infection or disruption of quorum sensing. Demonstration of this association in naturally infected swine has not been demonstrated.

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