Mycoplasma bacteria can cause a variety of symptoms in many of our animal species. These bacteria are unique because they lack a cell wall, making them challenging to detect and treat. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) commonly detects infections in dogs, cats, and livestock. One of the most common signs of mycoplasma…
The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) assists Texas veterinarians in diagnosing an average of over 350 cases of systemic fungal infection each year. To do so, TVMDL offers serologic testing specific for Aspergillus, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Cryptococcus, and Histoplasma. Additionally, these fungal pathogens may be cultured, or found via microscopic examination of blood smears,…
John Reagor, PhD, Veterinary Toxicologist Emeritus, passed away on April 20. Reagor fervently served the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) as the agency’s toxicologist for 50 years. During his time at TVMDL he garnered a national reputation for his expertise of various toxins. He led TVMDL’s toxicology section to become one of the…
The thyroid gland serves an important function in the overall health of animals. However, it can also lead to a host of health issues if not functioning properly. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) offers several options for assessing thyroid disorders. In addition to individual tests, TVMDL offers several panels specifically for canine,…
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) Clinical Pathologist Dr. Yvonne Wikander recently co-authored a major review paper over Cytauxzoon felis, a tick-transmitted pathogen in feline. C. felis is the causative agent of cytauxzoonosis, a disease often seen in domestic cats. Abstract Cytauxzoon felis is a tick-transmitted, obligate, hemoprotozoal, piroplasmid pathogen of felids and the causative agent…
Clinical pathology testing is most of the widely used disciplines in diagnostics. As such, it’s imperative to ensure samples are submitted with the end goal in mind: quality results. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) Clinical Pathologist Dr. Yvonne Wikander recently published an article that covers best practices for submitting high-quality samples for clinical…