A 10-year-old female spayed Shih Tzu was presented to her veterinarian for an annual wellness exam. At home, the dog had been doing well but was reported to have less energy. On physical examination, the veterinarian noted mildly to moderately enlarged mandibular and prescapular lymph nodes bilaterally. A fine needle aspirate was collected and sent…
Fixed and fresh tissue samples from the testicles of a dog were received at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for histopathologic evaluation and bacterial culture. The dog was approximately 2 years old and from south Texas. Both of the submitted testicles were described as being very hard and the dog was described…
Anaplasma marginale is a rickettsial bacterium that invades the red blood cells (RBCs) of ruminants, primarily cattle, and is considered the most common tick-borne infection of cattle. In addition to tick vectors (Dermacentor spp., Rhipicephalus spp.), biting flies and blood-tainted fomites can also transmit this organism. Anaplasma marginale is typically a clinical disease of adult cattle. Calves infected with the organisms usually…
Vaccination programs are integral to the overall health and profitability of a cattle operation. Without vaccinations, diseases such as Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) can decimate a cattle herd. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) team includes experienced veterinary diagnosticians available to help veterinarians and producers with a vaccination…
Canine herpesvirus (CHV), or Varicellovirus canidalpha1, belongs to the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae within the Herpesviridae family. This significant pathogen affects domestic dogs, notably neonates, and is likely to be globally distributed with varying prevalence across different geographic regions. While there is a need for more recent data on the seroprevalence of CHV in the United States, historical records indicate that less…
A flock of approximately 3000 Chukar partridges, aged five months and older, were experiencing a decrease in performance and a slight increase in mortality. The birds continued to eat but many lost weight and eventually died. No overt respiratory or digestive clinical signs were observed. Six live, 5-month-old Chukar partridges were presented to the Texas…
An 8-year-old, female, spayed Yorkshire terrier from southcentral Texas presented to their veterinarian with lethargy, inappetence, and an acute onset of a “hunched over” posture. The dog had no clinical history of external parasites, including ticks. Whole blood and serum were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for complete blood count…
A 7-year-old, female spayed, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier from the Brazos Valley region of Texas presented to the veterinarian for lethargy and decreased appetite. The clinic found there was mild anemia and a low platelet count at 32K/µL (RI: 200-500K/µL). The veterinarian reviewed a blood smear in the clinic and noted hemoparasites. Peripheral blood was…
Four kangaroos from the same small herd were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for necropsy and were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis. Most of these kangaroos were found dead without exhibiting any prior signs of illness. One was reported to have labored breathing shortly before death. At necropsy, three…
An aspirate from a mass on the penis of a 3-year-old, intact male, mixed breed dog was submitted for examination at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station. The mass was proliferative (cauliflower-like) and ulcerated on the surface. History indicated the mass had grown rapidly. Slides from the aspirate were cellular…