“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...]
Aspergillosis diagnosed in 5-month-old chicken
Aspergillosis diagnosed in 5-month-old chicken By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD A 5-month-old female chicken with a history of dyspnea was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. Duration … [Read more...]
Salmonellosis in Racing Pigeons
Salmonellosis in Racing Pigeons By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) Center laboratory recently discovered salmonellosis in a flock of 75 racing pigeons. At the time of … [Read more...]
Sticktight fleas, body lice discovered in 30-week-old laying chickens
Sticktight fleas, body lice discovered in 30-week-old laying chickens By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Recently, five live 30-week-old laying chickens were presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for … [Read more...]
Lymphoid leukosis discovered in Legbar chicken
Lymphoid leukosis discovered in Legbar chicken By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD Recently, one dead, female, Cream Legbar chicken was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. The bird had … [Read more...]
Staphylococcosis and fowl pox in broiler breeders
Staphylococcosis and fowl pox in broiler breeders By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Staphylococcosis and fowl pox were diagnosed at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) poultry lab in Center, TX, in a flock of … [Read more...]
Lead poisoning in guinea fowl
Lead poisoning in guinea fowl By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD One live male guinea fowl was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. History noted the bird was bright and alert, but moved very … [Read more...]
TVMDL welcomes new section head at Amarillo laboratory
On July 23, Owais Khan, BVSc & AH, MVSc, joined the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Amarillo as the bacteriology and serology section head. Dr. Khan graduated from Birsa Agricultural University with a … [Read more...]
Histomoniasis “Blackhead” in Bobwhite Quail
Histomoniasis “Blackhead” in Bobwhite Quail By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS Histomoniasis, a protozoal disease of birds also known as “Blackhead”, was diagnosed in a flock of Bobwhite quail. Three dead females and one dead male, … [Read more...]
Threadworms found in Chukar partridges
Threadworms found in Chukar partridges By Martin Ficken, DVM, PhD, Gonzales Resident Director With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these interesting cases to increase … [Read more...]
Chlamydia in birds
Chlamydia in birds By Sandy Rodgers, Serology Section Head With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these interesting cases to increase awareness among veterinary and … [Read more...]
Multiple Cases of Ulcerative Enteritis Diagnosed in Quail
Multiple Cases of Ulcerative Enteritis Diagnosed in Quail By Erin Edwards, DVM, MS, DACVP and Franklin Lopez, DVM, MS, DACVP With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these … [Read more...]
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in broiler chickens
Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) in broiler chickens By Gabriel Senties-Cue, MVZ, EPAA, MS With over 800,000 tests run annually, TVMDL encounters many challenging cases. Our case study series will highlight these interesting cases to increase … [Read more...]
