Case Studies

  • Isolation of Nannizziopsis sp. from skin lesions of a veiled chameleon (chamaeleo calyptratus)

    An eight-month-old veiled chameleon exhibited white, patchy, crusty skin lesions on the dorsal crest above the hind legs (Fig. 1). A skin biopsy specimen was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for histopathology and a swab and skin crust samples were submitted for routine bacterial and fungal culture. The swab sample…

  • Toxoplasmosis in a herd of kangaroos

    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…

  • Necropsy of a sulcata tortoise (geochelone sulcate) with urinary calculi

    An eight-month-old sulcate tortoise was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) for necropsy. The history indicated that the tortoise had died unexpectedly with a history of bloating and a progressively soft shell. No clinical diagnosis was made by the referring veterinarian.  A popular pet for reptile lovers, the sulcate tortoise, Geochelone sulcate,…

  • Fusarium sp. infection in a captive python

    A skin sample from a 35-year old captive python was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for fungal culture. The submitting veterinarian noted the snake was euthanized because it exhibited severe ulcerative skin lesions, was lethargic, and had stopped eating.  The skin sample was set up on five different agar plates…

  • Cryptosporidium serpentis in snakes

    An adult black tailed Cribo (Drymarchon melanurus), a snake native to Central and South America, was presented for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for chronic regurgitation.  Upon necropsy examination, the stomach was markedly thickened with prominent rugal folds. The remainder of the visceral organs appeared within normal limits.  Histologically, the…

  • Achyla spp. pathogen noted in alligator hatchings

    Two alligator hatchlings were presented for necropsy to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) from an alligator farm.  The alligator farmer noticed animals in one of his pens had started developing milky looking skin lesions over the beak and the back. The lesions would progress, the animals would stop eating and then ultimately…

  • Sudden deaths in rabbit breeding colony attributed to Clostridium septicum

    A rabbit breeding colony experienced multiple sudden deaths in a barn that typically had few death losses.  The rabbits were noted grossly to have hemorrhage in the cecum and colon.  Tissues from a 20-month-old female Flemish Giant rabbit were submitted for histopathology and bacterial culture.  Histologically the rabbit had a marked, diffuse necrotizing and hemorrhagic…

  • Equine asthma diagnosed with BAL cytology

    A 23-year-old American Quarter Horse mare was presented to a veterinarian for chronic coughing and exercise intolerance. On physical examination, wheezing was heard during auscultation. Complete Blood Count (CBC) and chemistry profiles were unremarkable. Respiratory endoscopy revealed mildly increased airway mucus. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed and fluid was submitted to TVMDL for cytologic…

  • Fungal equine endometritis

    Vaginal/uterine discharge was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station from an eight-year-old Warmblood mare for culture and a cytologic evaluation. Cytologically the discharge consisted of large numbers of degenerate neutrophils and marked numbers of yeast. The neutrophils were actively phagocytizing the yeast. There were no bacteria identified. The…

  • Failed equine pre-purchase drug screen

    Blood was collected during a routine pre-purchase examination on a horse and submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for drug testing. Serum was extracted using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and analyzed by liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Romifidine was confirmed in the sample by LC-MS/MS. Romifidine…