Case Studies

  • TVMDL detects feline calicivirus in multi-cat household

    The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) detected feline calicivirus (FCV) via qPCR in three cats who live in a multi-cat household. All cats had clinical signs consistent with feline chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS) and tested negative for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses. Feline chronic gingivostomatitis is one of the most common clinical diseases…

  • Two cases of coccidioidomycosis diagnosed at TVMDL

    Two submissions to TVMDL contained the following histories: Case 1 – A seven-year-old, female, spayed Chihuahua mixed breed dog had suddenly become blind about one month prior to presenting at the submitting veterinarian’s clinic. The dog had enlarged lymph nodes and a large abscess on the left side of the head. It was open-mouth breathing,…

  • Two cats diagnosed with hepatic amyloidosis and secondary hepatic rupture

    Two cats from two separate clinics were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) and were both diagnosed with hepatic amyloidosis. The whole body of the first cat was submitted for necropsy and histopathology. Formalin-fixed sections of liver, gallbladder, and kidney from the second cat were submitted for histopathology following a necropsy…

  • Ulcerative enteritis discovered in bobwhite quail

    Three dead and eight live 17-week-old bobwhite quail were presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy with a history of ongoing weight loss and an increase in mortality.  One live bird died prior to examination.  The remaining live birds were mildly depressed. Upon necropsy examination, birds ranged in…

  • Unusual manifestation of papular stomatitis in a feedlot steer

    A male-castrated, crossbred steer was noted to have a severe and locally extensive skin disease involving the perineal and inguinal areas with other scattered individual nodular skin masses on other portions of the body (Figure 1). The animal was otherwise healthy and displayed no discomfort from the skin lesions. Fresh and fixed skin lesions were…

  • Unusual presentation of histoplasmosis in a canine patient

    The clinical pathology section at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) received a digital cytology submission, with follow-up glass slides submission, of a prostate aspirate from a 7-year-old, male, small-breed canine. According to the referring veterinarian, the patient had a history of weight loss, diarrhea, and tenesmus. Rectal exam revealed an enlarged prostate.…

  • Valvular endocarditis in a pig due to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

    The carcass of a female, approximately 112-pound Landrace-Yorkshire pig, was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. History noted the pig died suddenly without previous clinical signs. The pig was the only one affected of a group of swine breeding stock destined for research purposes. At necropsy, there was extensive…

  • Viral arthritis in broiler chickens

    Ten live 20-day-old, meat type chickens were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) Center laboratory with a clinical history of leg problems and swollen tendons. At necropsy examination the birds exhibited outwardly deviated legs, moderately swollen hocks with an accumulation of a tannish, turbid exudate, and swollen gastrocnemius tendons. Serology for…

  • Viral-induced Shope fibroma diagnosed in rabbit

    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…

  • Visceral mast cell disease in a cat

    An 11-year-old, female spayed, domestic short haired cat was presented to her veterinarian for increased appetite, weight loss, and occasional vomiting. Besides a low body condition score, no overt abnormalities were identified on physical exam. A minimum database (CBC, chemistry, T4, and urinalysis) was performed at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). The…