About one in 3,500 people are affected with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a disease of the retina's visual cells that eventually leads to blindness. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has identified a genetic link between cats and humans for two different forms of RP. This discovery will help scientists develop gene-based therapies that will benefit both cats and humans.

The fiscal year 2010 budget proposal that President Obama released last week likely would require the administration to hire tens of thousands of new federal employees to meet his "ambitious" goals in a number of areas, such as health care, the Washington Post reports.

Take advantage and vaccinate your animals before turning them out to protect them from the threat of bluetongue. This is the message from the JAB campaign which aims to keep up the pressure on livestock farmers to vaccinate for the coming season. Vaccine manufacturers Merial, Intervet and Fort Dodge are all supplying vaccine and it is available in all veterinary practices across England.

GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy special issue: Colonoscopy for colorectal neoplasia In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month during March, GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has put out a special issue on colonoscopy for colorectal neoplasia. Studies of note regarding colonoscopy appear in both the monthly March issue and the special issue.

A new study in this week´s PLoS Medicine, reports that the risk of suicide increases two to three time on young men 24 years old or less who leave the UK Armed Forces than those remaining in active service or those in the general population. In the first two years after discharge, the risk seems to increase in the men with short length of service, and those of inferior rank.

The Health Protection Agency continues to work closely with local and national veterinary colleagues following the announcement yesterday by the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that avian influenza had been found in poultry on two premises in the East of England. Defra has today confirmed that the avian influenza virus present there is H6N1. The H6 virus type has been isolated in domestic poultry and wild birds in Europe over the last few years.