By Kiril Dimitrov, DVM, PhD The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, was enacted in December 2018. The 2018 Farm Bill provides support, certainty, and stability to the U.S. farmers, ranchers, and forest … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Guidance: E. coli Toxin Typing in Ruminants
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) currently offers an E. coli Toxin Typing test for ruminants, in addition to toxin typing assays for other species. This assay utilizes rtPCR technology on E. coli isolates recovered … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Guidance: Equine Pre-Purchase Drug Screen
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory offers an equine-specific drug screen for pre-purchase exams. The screen assists the veterinarian conducting the pre-purchase exam by identifying certain tranquilizing or NSAID drugs that … [Read more...]
Chronic Wasting Disease: Detecting the Disease Plaguing Texas’s Deer Populations
As the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) tests hundreds of thousands of samples annually. However, on the brink of each year’s deer hunting season, test numbers begin to spike … [Read more...]
Chagas Disease: TVMDL Testing and Diagnostic Guidance
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) routinely sees positive tests for canine trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease. Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, a hemoflagellate protozoan. Dubbed the … [Read more...]
Thyroid Disease Testing at TVMDL: Diagnostic Guidance and Testing Considerations
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) offers four panels for clients wishing to test for thyroid disease. Learn more about each panel, additional test considerations, information over treatment monitoring below. Click … [Read more...]
Diagnosing Feline Heartworms
Diagnosing Feline Heartworms By Melanie T. Landis, DVM, MBA, TVMDL Microbiology Veterinary Diagnostician We are all familiar with the saying that “cats are not small dogs”. This is true when it comes to feline heartworm disease. While dogs are … [Read more...]
Hemorrhagic Disease in Deer: Clinical Signs and Diagnostic Guidance
Hemorrhagic disease is a viral disease caused by either the epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus or the bluetongue virus. These viruses are closely related, but genetically distinct. In North America, hemorrhagic disease is seen primarily among … [Read more...]
Blue-green Algae: Keeping Pets and Livestock Safe this Summer
As summer comes to an end, animal owners should be wary of the potential threat of blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a phylum of bacteria that produce energy through photosynthesis. These bacteria are often found … [Read more...]
Mitigating the Risk of Mosquitos: EEE, WEE, and WNV Diagnostic Guidance
Each summer, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) confirms several cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) in horse populations across the state. Mosquitos play a vital role in the … [Read more...]
Livestock producers should be aware of small-headed sneezeweed
COLLEGE STATION – One plant currently flowering across different parts of the state is poisonous and should be of concern to ranchers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert and Dr. Cat Barr, TVMDL … [Read more...]
Texas Animal Health Commission changes shipping time for Trich test samples
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) voted at its December 2016 commission meeting to decrease the allowed shipping time of trichomonas samples from veterinarians to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). Samples for … [Read more...]
Texas Parks and Wildlife CWD transfer policy
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Policy Regarding Automated Transfer of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Test Results from Texas A&M Veterinarian Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) News Release Media Contact: Steve Lightfoot, … [Read more...]
APHIS Pet Travel Website
Recently, the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a new Pet Travel Website. The site lists information animal owners and practitioners need to correctly test animals moving to or coming from other countries. The APHIS … [Read more...]
From National Hog Farmer: Producers’ help needed in summer SVV fight
Source: Swine Health Information Center / National Hog Farmer Since January, more than 60 positive accessions of the Seneca Valley Virus, or Senecavirus A, have been reported by labs across the United States and new cases appear to be showing up … [Read more...]
TVMDL retires BSE, Rhodococcus equi SHI
Effective immediately, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) will no longer offer the following tests: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ELISA If BSE testing is required, please contact the National Animal Health … [Read more...]
TPWD announces CWD Management Rules for 2016
Recently, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced rule changes for managed deer. The rules affect deer breeders and facilities involved in Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) traces. All inquiries and questions regarding TPWD rules should be … [Read more...]
TVMDL now offers liver, feed specimens as option for Selenium testing
Previously, Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMD) clients who submitted a liver or feed sample for selenium testing had to wait for results to be published from a referral lab. Now, TVMDL offers the test in-house. TEST: … [Read more...]
American Association of Feline Practitioners revises guidelines for Feline Hyperthroidism
The American Association of Feline Practitioners has just issued new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of feline hyperthyroidism. The guidelines are available HERE. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory offers several … [Read more...]
UPDATE: Additional EHM/EHV cases in Cooke County
Additional horses have tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM; Equine Herpesvirus - EHV) in Cooke County, Texas. The below was posted by the Texas Equine Veterinary Association and Equine Disease Communications … [Read more...]
TVMDL assists in diagnosing Lyme disease in Panhandle animals
In recent years, it seems that transmissible diseases that cross from animal to human either directly or through insect vectors are on the rise. These diseases are not new to the Panhandle area; however, the ability to spread awareness and … [Read more...]
When flood waters recede, potential for an increase in mosquito-borne equine disease
In 2015, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) confirmed 38 Texas horses infected with West Nile virus (WNV) and six cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). Currently, flood conditions in parts of Texas will produce … [Read more...]
TVMDL Amarillo Resident Director Dr. Helman discusses managing cattle, equine abortions
On Friday, May 13, R. Gayman Helman, DVM, PhD, MA, resident director of the Amarillo location of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) joined the weekly Amarillo-area radio show, KGNC-710 Golden Spread AgriBusiness … [Read more...]
Prevent the creation of BVD-PI calves
Posted from High Plains Journal: Lubbock Prevent the creation of BVD-PI calves Contrary to popular opinion, BVD does not stand for bad veterinarian disease. It stands for bovine viral diarrhea, and it can be very costly for cow-calf producers and … [Read more...]
TVMDL retires Chlamydia Titer, Canine or Feline
Effective immediately, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) will no longer offer serologic titer testing for Chlamydia Titer, Canine or Feline (IFA). TVMDL no longer offers this test due to the low number of … [Read more...]
