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As temperatures drop, outdoor cats may be spending more time indoors, which calls for attention to a health threat — Toxoplasma gondii, also known as the “cat parasite.” This infectious agent infects over 40 million people in the U.S. The parasites reproduce exclusively within cats; however, any warm-blooded animal, including humans, is susceptible to the…
As warmer weather approaches, many livestock producers across the state are set to begin preparations for birthing season for several ruminant species. This year, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, is encouraging producers to be aware of Q fever and add an extra layer of precaution to their preparations. “It can affect a…
Feline Upper Respiratory Infection, URI, is also known as “cat cold.” Similar to a cold in humans, infected cats show signs of sneezing, coughing, and eye and nose discharge. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, offers several testing options to support practitioners in early-stage detection and management. Cats living in shelters or in…
Equine rhinitis viruses, ERV, are small, non-enveloped RNA viruses belonging to the Picornaviridae family, shown to be capable of causing disease in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts of equids. In the 1960s, clinical presentation and some virological features mistakenly led to its inclusion in the Rhinovirus genus. By the 1990s, molecular studies confirmed…
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…
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. …
Every test sample that comes through the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, tells part of a story — about the health of animals, the environment and the humans they impact. Carlos Rodriguez, informatics and epidemiology program director at TVMDL, turns those data points into insight. Long before he led TVMDL’s informatics and epidemiology…
Four employees from the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) have been honored with the prestigious 2025 Eugster Award. This award program is named in honor of Dr. A. Konrad Eugster, TVMDL’s former executive director, who served the agency for more than 30 years. Dr. Eugster exemplified a lifetime of service to others. In…
Two Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, employees were selected to receive Vice Chancellor’s Awards in Excellence honors at the Texas A&M AgriLife Connect ceremonies Jan. 7 on the Texas A&M University campus. Since 1980, Texas A&M AgriLife has annually recognized individuals whose exceptional contributions have advanced its mission. The 2025 award recipients include…
Between 2019 and 2023, TVMDL has assisted Texas veterinarians in diagnosing 32 cases of hemotropic Mycoplasma infection and 9 cases of cytauxzoonosis in cats. These cases have been identified by microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears, targeted PCR testing, or necropsy/histological examination. Using TVMDL testing data gathered since March 2019, this article provides a brief…