Historical overview of anthrax in Texas’ livestock population (1974-2022) Narayan Paul, DVM, MS, PhD, ACVM Anthrax is caused by a gram positive, rod-shaped bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. This is a spore forming bacteria that can persist in … [Read more...] about Historical overview of anthrax in Texas’ livestock population (1974-2022)
Case Study
Juvenile lymphoma in an Angus calf
Juvenile lymphoma in an Angus Calf Julie Piccione, DVM, MS, DACVP and Jessie Monday, DVM, MS, DACVPM 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 … [Read more...] about Juvenile lymphoma in an Angus calf
Neurologic Disease due to Bovine Herpesvirus-5 (BHV-5) Infection in a 3-week-old Charolais mix calf
Neurologic Disease due to Bovine Herpesvirus-5 (BHV-5) Infection in a 3-week-old Charolais mix calf Kiana Jessie, BS, HT (ASCP); Pam Ferro, MS, PhD; Gabriel Gomez, DVM, PhD, DACVP Tissue samples from a three-week old, Charolais mix, male intact … [Read more...] about Neurologic Disease due to Bovine Herpesvirus-5 (BHV-5) Infection in a 3-week-old Charolais mix calf
Rare case of ocular onchocerciasis in a dog from south Texas
Rare case of ocular onchocerciasis in a dog from south Texas Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP and Mindy Borst, LVT A formalin-fixed globe from an 11-year-old, castrated male, Pitbull dog was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic … [Read more...] about Rare case of ocular onchocerciasis in a dog from south Texas
Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis (Visceral Larval Migrans) in Birds
Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis (Visceral Larval Migrans) in Birds Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD, ACPV Nematodes of the genus Baylisascaris are recognized as causes of avian cerebral nematodiasis. Baylisascaris columnaris, the ascarid of skunks and … [Read more...] about Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis (Visceral Larval Migrans) in Birds
Spironucleosis (Hexamitiasis) in Quail
Spironucleosis (Hexamitiasis) in Quail Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD, ACPV A flock of approximately 10,000 Coturnix quail, aged 5.5 months, were experiencing mild diarrhea and various vague neurological symptoms resulting in a spike in mortality over … [Read more...] about Spironucleosis (Hexamitiasis) in Quail
Endocarditis in a White-Tailed Deer Caused by Trueperella pyogenes
Endocarditis in a White-Tailed Deer Caused by Trueperella pyogenes Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP A 1.5-year-old, captive, white-tailed deer buck was submitted to TVMDL for necropsy. The animal had a prolonged history of illness for at least 4 … [Read more...] about Endocarditis in a White-Tailed Deer Caused by Trueperella pyogenes
Pinkeye in cattle
Pinkeye in cattle Guy Sheppard, DVM Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) or pinkeye can be very problematic at times in cattle herds. It is manifested as an inflammation/infection of the cornea and conjunctiva of one or both eyes in … [Read more...] about Pinkeye in cattle
Equine asthma diagnosed with BAL Cytology
Equine asthma diagnosed with BAL Cytology Julie Piccione, DVM, MS, DACVP and Judith Akins, DVM, MS A 23-year-old American Quarter Horse mare was presented to a veterinarian for chronic coughing and exercise intolerance. On physical examination, … [Read more...] about Equine asthma diagnosed with BAL Cytology
Possible chocolate poisoning in a dog
Possible chocolate poisoning in a dog Travis Mays, MS, PhD The TVMDL received a full set of fresh and fixed tissue samples and stomach content from a four-year-old Belgian Tervuren for testing. The dog appeared normal in the morning, running … [Read more...] about Possible chocolate poisoning in a dog
Feline post-traumatic sarcoma
Feline post-traumatic sarcoma Morgan Matthews, DVM, DACVP An entire globe from an 8-year-old cat was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). The patient had a history of bilateral glaucoma, but the left … [Read more...] about Feline post-traumatic sarcoma
Carcinomatosis in laying chickens
Carcinomatosis in laying chickens Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD, ACVP A female Gray Barred chicken was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales. The chicken was approximately 2 years old and weighed … [Read more...] about Carcinomatosis in laying chickens
Listeriosis in a goat doe
Listeriosis in a goat doe Guy Sheppard DVM, Jessie Monday DVM, MS, Laura Rice DVM, MS, DACVP Samples from a one-year-old Boer goat doe were received at the TVMDL for testing. The doe had displayed neurological signs including unilateral paresis, … [Read more...] about Listeriosis in a goat doe
Polio Syndrome in Ruminants
Polio Syndrome in Ruminants Guy Sheppard, DVM Polioencephalomalacia “Polio” is a syndrome of ruminant animals affecting the central nervous system. Seizures are the most notable sign, progressing quickly to the death of the affected animal … [Read more...] about Polio Syndrome in Ruminants
Detection of Neospora caninum DNA in a mummified bovine fetus
Detection of Neospora caninum DNA in a mummified bovine fetus Andrés de la Concha-Bermejillo, DVM, MS, PhD, Pam Ferro, PhD, Megan Schroeder, PhD The body of a midterm bovine fetus and the attached placenta were submitted to the Texas A&M … [Read more...] about Detection of Neospora caninum DNA in a mummified bovine fetus
Systemic Besnoitiosis in a Virginia Opossum
Systemic Besnoitiosis in a Virginia Opossum Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP Besnoitia spp. are protozoal parasites that form tissue cysts in intermediate hosts. Besnoitiosis caused by B. darlinigi is well described in Virginia opossums (Didelphis … [Read more...] about Systemic Besnoitiosis in a Virginia Opossum
Osteogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta in a calf
Osteogenesis and Dentinogenesis Imperfecta in a Calf Randi Gold VMD, PhD, DACVP and Guy Sheppard DVM A 21 day-old calf with a history of multiple leg fractures and no evidence of external injuries was euthanized and sent into the TVMDL for … [Read more...] about Osteogenesis and dentinogenesis imperfecta in a calf
Analytical chemistry research testing capabilities
Analytical chemistry research testing capabilities Travis Mays, MS, PhD The analytical chemistry section at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is equipped with instrumentation, including eight mass spectrometers, … [Read more...] about Analytical chemistry research testing capabilities
Listeriosis in Cattle
Listeriosis in Cattle Guy Sheppard, DVM Since last summer, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has seen a few cases of listeriosis in cattle. Submitting veterinarians have reported profound neurological signs that … [Read more...] about Listeriosis in Cattle
The role of diagnostic testing in establishing bovine vaccination programs
The role of diagnostic testing in establishing bovine vaccination programs Guy Sheppard, DVM Vaccination programs are integral to the overall health and profitability of a cattle operation. Without vaccinations, diseases such as Bovine … [Read more...] about The role of diagnostic testing in establishing bovine vaccination programs
Cutaneous Pythiosis in a German Shepherd Dog
Cutaneous Pythiosis in a German Shepherd Dog Cheryl Maguire, DVM, Dominique Wiener, DVM, PhD, DECVP, Sonia Lingsweiler, BS, MS The bacteriology section at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) received a skin swab for … [Read more...] about Cutaneous Pythiosis in a German Shepherd Dog
A tale of a tail tumor: Ferret chordoma
A tale of a tail tumor: Ferret chordoma Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP Chordomas are among the most common diagnoses in ferret biopsy samples submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). This article highlights a … [Read more...] about A tale of a tail tumor: Ferret chordoma
Strychnine detected in a puppy
Strychnine detected in a puppy Travis Mays, MS, DVM The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory received stomach content, fresh kidney, and serum from a two-month old mixed breed puppy for testing. The owner found the puppy … [Read more...] about Strychnine detected in a puppy
Polytetrafluoroethylene Toxicosis (TeflonTM Toxicity)
Polytetrafluoroethylene Toxicosis (TeflonTM Toxicity) Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD, ACPV The non-stick coating polytetrafluoroethylene (TeflonTM) on cookware, light bulbs, and ovens releases fluorinated gases upon overheating. This is particularly … [Read more...] about Polytetrafluoroethylene Toxicosis (TeflonTM Toxicity)
Fungal Equine Endometritis
Fungal Equine Endometritis Judith Akins, DVM, MS 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 … [Read more...] about Fungal Equine Endometritis