Tissues from a 3-year-old, castrated male Great Dane were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). On histopathology, the liver, spleen, and kidney were infiltrated by neoplastic lymphocytes. Neoplastic lymphocytes migrated through hepatic sinusoids and uniquely, also infiltrated hepatocytes. Hepatocytotropic lymphoma is a rare, highly aggressive form of T-cell lymphoma, arising from…
An 11-month-old Bloodhound dog presented to an east Texas veterinary clinic with a 2-week history of lethargy, painfulness, and losing muscle mass. Vital signs included a temperature of 104°F, pulse 160 bpm, pink mucous membranes, and capillary refill time of more than two seconds. The fecal exam indicated a severe hookworm infestation. An in-house CBC…
Small intestinal biopsy samples from a two-year-old German Shepherd dog were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station. The clinical history indicated chronic diarrhea for the last six months, normal blood parameters and no parasites noted on fecal floatation. When the biopsies were examined there were numerous white nodules…
Two Presa de Canario puppies from a litter of eight were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. These puppies were estimated to be approximately 1 to 2 weeks old. A total of six puppies from this litter had died, amounting to a mortality rate of 75%. Some puppies were…
Histomoniasis, a protozoal disease of birds also known as “Blackhead”, was diagnosed in a flock of Bobwhite quail. Three dead females and one dead male, 8-month-old, Bobwhite quail were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) with a clinical history of increased mortality. History indicated the flock exhibited enteritis and had been…
The causative agent of histomoniasis is a protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis. Numerous gallinaceous birds are affected by this parasite including turkeys, chickens, chukar partridges, peafowl, pheasants, and ruffed grouse. H. meleagridis is commonly transmitted in embryonated eggs of the common cecal worm, Heterakis gallinarum. Chickens and other gallinaceous birds harbor this worm, which acts as a reservoir. In turn,…
Feline herpesvirus is a highly transmissible, viral disease that is very common in cats. This disease is also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis and is included in core feline vaccines. Feline herpesvirus is frequently diagnosed at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). The most common laboratory methods of diagnosis include PCR and histopathology,…
A six-year-old domestic short hair (DSH) cat was examined by a veterinarian for ocular and nasal discharge, anorexia, and weight loss that had persisted for two months. Bilateral enlarged popliteal lymph nodes were found on the initial examination. Fine needle aspiration of one of the enlarged lymph nodes was performed and a digital image of…
Anthrax is caused by a gram positive, rod-shaped bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. This is a spore forming bacteria that can persist in dry, alkaline soil of endemic areas such as southwest Texas. Cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and horses are more susceptible to infection than pigs, birds and carnivores, like dogs and cats. In herbivores, anthrax…
Tissue samples from two ear masses on a 3-year-old American Quarter Horse were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (TVMDL) in College Station for histopathology and culture. Masses from both ears were histologically similar, consisting of severe, chronic, pyogranulomatous dermatitis. There was formation of discrete pyogranulomas with central aggregates of Splendore-Hoeppli material and…