The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, has added to and improved it’s diagnostic offerings for equine and canine clients interested in testing for respiratory diseases. Clients now have the options of requesting two new testing panels aimed at detecting common pathogens that contribute to equine respiratory disease. Respiratory PCR Panel – Equine BasicTest…
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) has expanded its Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) testing to now include cats. This offering was previously limited to testing in dogs, however TVMDL has validated the assay and interpretive thresholds to assist feline clients in assessing AMH concentrations. AMH is a protein hormone produced by Sertoli cells and…
Homesteads and other dairy goat operations are increasing in popularity, as demand for fresh, unique milk products continues to rise. Goat milk is used to make various products such as butter, desserts, soaps, and lotions. However, as the dairy goat industry grows, so does the expectation for herd health surveillance, which is closely correlated with…
October is filled with treats that can make pet safety tricky. Candy, food, drinks, and decorative items rank among the spookiest of scares for pets. As such, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is encouraging dog owners to take note of the seasonal items present during the month of October as many can…
Urinalysis remains one of the most valuable, cost-effective, and accessible diagnostic tools available to veterinarians. Urine samples can reveal early indicators of disease affecting the kidneys, urinary tract, and other organ systems. However, because urine is a particularly sensitive and unstable biological sample, proper collection, storage, and shipping are important to ensure accurate diagnostic results. …
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, pathologist Josué Díaz-Delgado, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVP, and pathology resident Margaret Odom, DVM, recently co-authored a literature review examining high pathogenicity avian influenza, HPAI, subtype H5N1 infection in feline species. This publication was the result of an international collaboration between scientists from the Animal and Plant Health Agency,…
Three professionals from the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, were honored at this year’s American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, AAVLD, meeting in Aurora, Colorado. Amy Swinford, DVM, TVMDL director, was the 2025 recipient of the E.P. Pope Award, AAVLD’s highest recognition. The E.P. Pope Award signifies immense contributions to AAVLD and the…
Botulism may be uncommon, but when it strikes, the consequences can be devastating. Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum, a spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium. Susceptibility varies among species, and the effects of infection may range from temporary paralysis to respiratory failure. Timely recognition and diagnosis of botulism are helpful for…
Effective Jan. 1, The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has named Kiril Dimitrov, DVM, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, following the retirement of Amy Swinford, DVM, MS, DACVM, from the position. Dimitrov joined the agency in 2019 as head of the virology and molecular diagnostics section at…