Bordetellosis (Turkey Coryza) in Turkeys By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Bordetellosis is a highly contagious upper respiratory tract disease of poultry caused by Bordetella avium, a gram-negative motile aerobic rod-shaped bacterium. B. avium is … [Read more...]
Aspergillosis in a Pacific Eider
Aspergillosis in a Pacific Eider Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP and Narayan Paul, DVM, MS, PhD A four-year-old Pacific eider (sea duck) was reported to have a history of open-mouth breathing. It had been treated for suspected aspergillosis prior to … [Read more...]
Depluming mites in birds
Depluming mites in birds Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Depluming mites (Knemidocoptes gallinae, Neocnemidocoptes gallinae) are found worldwide and are related to the scaly leg mite (Knemicocoptes mutans). Depluming mites prefer feathered portions of … [Read more...]
Microfilaria identified in a penguin
Microfilaria identified in a penguin Cheryl Maguire, DVM, Mindy Borst, LVT An unidentified microfilaria was found on a blood smear obtained from a 16-year old, female, captive penguin who was being treated for respiratory aspergillosis. The … [Read more...]
Fowl Pox in Houdan chickens
Fowl Pox in Houdan chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Fowl Pox was diagnosed in three Houdan chickens submitted for diagnostic workup to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, Texas. Upon … [Read more...]
Ochroconosis (Dactylariosis) in birds
Ochroconosis (Dactylariosis) in birds Martin Ficken, DVM Ochroconosis is a sporadic fungal encephalitis that has been reported in young chickens, turkey poults, quail chicks, and wild birds. It is caused by a dematiaceous, thermophilic fungus, … [Read more...]
Pentobarbital in a Turkey Vulture
Pentobarbital in a Turkey Vulture Travis Mays, MS, PhD Twenty turkey vultures were found dead near the vicinity of a horse that was euthanized. One of the turkey vultures was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory … [Read more...]
Viral arthritis in broiler chickens
Viral arthritis in broiler chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Ten live 20-day-old, meat type chickens were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) Center laboratory with a clinical history of … [Read more...]
Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection in meat type chickens
Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection in meat type chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection was diagnosed in a flock of 113-day-old, brown feathered, meat type, chickens. Ten live birds were submitted to the … [Read more...]
Fatty Liver – Hemorrhagic Syndrome in a Chicken
Fatty Liver – Hemorrhagic Syndrome in a Chicken Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD A dead one-year-old female Red Sex-Link chicken was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Gonzales, Texas for necropsy examination. … [Read more...]
Rickets in backyard chickens
Rickets in backyard chickens Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Rickets was diagnosed in a live, 3-month-old, backyard type, female chicken. The bird was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, … [Read more...]
Histomoniasis (Blackhead) in birds
Histomoniasis (Blackhead) in birds Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD The causative agent of histomoniasis is a protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis. Numerous gallinaceous birds are affected by this parasite including turkeys, chickens, chukar … [Read more...]
“Hardware Disease” in Backyard Chickens
“Hardware Disease” in Backyard Chickens Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD “Hardware disease” in backyard chickens and other birds is caused by the ingestion of metal objects present in their environment. These objects range from sharp objects that … [Read more...]
Drug Testing During the Fall Livestock Show Season
Drug Testing During the Fall Livestock Show Season Travis Mays, MS, PhD Between the months of August to December, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) performs drug testing on more than 1,000 urine, blood, fecal, and … [Read more...]
Coccidiosis in Broiler Breeders
Coccidiosis in Broiler Breeders By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS, TVMDL Center Resident Director Severe coccidiosis was diagnosed in a 22-week-old, broiler breeder flock. Three dead birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary … [Read more...]
Diagnostic Guidance: Fowl Pox
Diagnostic Guidance: Fowl Pox By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Fowl pox is caused by a DNA virus (fowl pox virus). Many species of birds have their own specific pox virus. Infection can occur in two different forms: dry and wet. Dry pox occurs … [Read more...]
Gangrenous dermatitis discovered in separate broiler flocks
Gangrenous dermatitis discovered in separate broiler flocks Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Recently, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center diagnosed gangrenous dermatitis (GD) in three flocks of broilers … [Read more...]
Fowl Cholera in Chukar Partridges
Fowl Cholera in Chukar Partridges Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Twelve dead adult Chukar partridges were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. History noted an increase in spontaneous … [Read more...]
Mycoplasmosis in Backyard Chicken Flocks
Mycoplasmosis in Backyard Chicken Flocks Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Mycoplasmosis, caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticumand/or M. synoviae, is a group of bacterial diseases that are common maladies of backyard chicken flocks. Mycoplasma … [Read more...]
Test to detect avermectins added to TVMDL catalog
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is pleased to announce the addition of Avermectins (LC/MS) to our catalog of tests. This test serves to assist in the detection of avermectins, such as abamectin, doramectin, … [Read more...]
Salt Toxicity in Broilers
Salt Toxicity in Broilers By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MS, MVZ, DACPV Salt toxicity was recently diagnosed in a 17-day-old, meat type chicken flock. Twelve birds were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in … [Read more...]
Harris’s hawk diagnosed with fatal herpesvirus infection at necropsy
Harris’s hawk diagnosed with fatal herpesvirus infection at necropsy Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP A 6-month-old Harris’s hawk was necropsied at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station and was … [Read more...]
Chronic lead exposure in flock of backyard chickens
Chronic lead exposure in flock of backyard chickens By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales received a phone call concerning a decrease in production and poor performance of a … [Read more...]
Gangrenous Dermatitis diagnosed in Bobwhite quail
Gangrenous Dermatitis diagnosed in Bobwhite quail By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Seven dead, 16-week-old bobwhite quail were presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. The history … [Read more...]
Ulcerative Enteritis discovered in bobwhite quail
Ulcerative Enteritis discovered in bobwhite quail By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Three dead and eight live 17-week-old bobwhite quail were presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy with … [Read more...]
