An adult angus bull was presented to a veterinarian for lethargy and weakness. The bull died shortly after blood collection. Blood and tissue samples were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). The complete blood count revealed a marked leukocytosis characterized by a lymphocytosis at 43,000 lymphocytes/µL (reference interval 1,800 – 9,000…
A herd of steers, weighing approximately 700 lbs. and roughly 8 months old, was moved onto a ryegrass/native pasture. After about a month, four steers were found dead while 17 steers exhibited peeling and crusting noses with thickening of ear and eye margins. The animals did not exhibit any clinical signs of illness and were…
A 500 lb. steer from a 30,000 head capacity feedlot was recognized as ill and pulled to a “sick pen”. The steer was from a pen of 45 head that had been on feed for approximately 45 days and appeared normal until recently. The steer was discovered on a routine daily pen check to be…
Fifteen crossbred calves were placed in a pasture with a burn-pile. The day after they were provided with Johnson grass hay, one calf was found dead. Two days later, three calves were walking abnormally and had diarrhea. Feces from those calves was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for testing. Fecal…
A producer reported a sudden death loss of six head of cattle. Two of the animals were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy to determine the cause of sudden death. Upon arrival at TVMDL, the owner indicated there had been a history of pneumonia and some of the animals…
A veterinarian was called in to investigate the cause of abortion in a group of 60 well-managed 2-year-old brangus heifers. Four heifers aborted before the investigation was initiated. The herd is closed with a reportedly good biosecurity program and good nutrition. All of the animals are well-vaccinated. A fresh mid-term female fetus and fetal tissues…
During the winter, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) typically sees submissions in newborn calves described as “weak”, “dummy”, “maladjusted”, and “poor doer”. Most commonly, these animals are born alive but lack normal vigor and die within the first week of life. Postmortem exam and ancillary diagnostic testing has shown vitamin and trace…
A veterinarian was investigating the cause of increased non-respiratory disease mortalities in beef feeder cattle. The cattle were 100-200 days on feed and had signs of systemic compromise before acute death. On necropsy, the animals had advanced autolysis of the peritoneal organs, especially the liver and kidneys, and bladder distention. The bladders contained clotted blood…
A 12-month-old crossbred bull was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for necropsy. The clinical history indicated that this animal had periodic seizures and bouts of ataxia for two days. The animal would appear to be normal between these neurologic episodes. The referring veterinarian indicated that the neurologic signs…
Too often the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) receives samples where there is a concern for rabies testing but the brain tissue submitted is not suitable for testing by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in Austin. Usually the problem is an incomplete sample where only half the brain is submitted. Less commonly,…