The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales received a phone call concerning a decrease in production and poor performance of a backyard flock of chickens used as an egg source for the family. Further discussions with the caller revealed the chickens had access to an old building with peeling paint that the chickens…
A 76 gram, 9-year-old female knight anole (Anolis equestris) lizard from a zoological collection was euthanized due to poor prognosis after recurrence of a skin neoplasm on the lateral body that was incompletely excised 9 months prior. The neoplasm extended to the head at the time of euthanasia. A mixed chromatophoroma was diagnosed histologically at…
TVMDL received skin biopsy samples from several bearded dragon lizards with a patchy dermatitis that grossly presents as discolored skin with a crusty surface. Microscopic evaluation showed marked hyperkeratosis and mixed leukocytic infiltrates in the upper dermis (Figure 1). A PAS stain revealed the presence of fungal hyphal elements in the thick surface layer of…
A viral-induced Shope fibroma was diagnosed cytologically in an adult domestic rabbit with several subcutaneous masses. Shope (rabbit) fibroma virus is spread by biting arthropods and can result in the formation of single or multiple tumors in wild and domestic rabbits. Cytologically, these tumors can appear markedly atypical, mimicking a malignant neoplasm. Thorough clinical history…
A veterinarian was called to examine a 5-month-old Angus calf due to weight loss and lethargy. On physical examination the calf had a temperature of 105˚F and all external lymph nodes were enlarged. Blood was collected and lymph nodes were aspirated. The samples were sent to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for a…
Leishmania donovani/infantum Titer IFA testing was requested to assist in the clinical staging of a 6-year-old, neutered male, Spanish Galgo. The dog was rescued in Spain and imported to the United States by a rescue group. Prior to importation, screening for Leishmania was negative. Several months after being adopted, the dog presented with a peripheral…
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…
An outdoor 5-year-old domestic medium hair cat from Gainesville, Texas was presented to a veterinarian for decreased appetite and thirst of one-day duration. The cat had disappeared a few days prior to examination. Freshly prepared blood smears were submitted for a hemoparasite examination at TVMDL. Examination of the blood smear from the cat revealed schizont-laden…
A 10-year-old female quarter horse flipped over backwards onto its head after being spooked. Following the incident, the patient made multiple attempts to rise but would flail and progressed to having multiple seizure episodes and bilateral epistaxis. Due to the grave prognosis and perceived likelihood of potential traumatic injury to the brain and spinal cord,…
Pre-weaning calf diarrhea is a common concern in the beef and dairy industry and the cause may be difficult to determine. This is due to the multifactorial nature of calf diarrhea. Multiple etiologies, both infectious and non-infectious, can result in diarrhea. Disease is caused by an interaction between a host, an agent, and the environment…