Armed with giant hacksaws and cheerful attitudes, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s, TVMDL, necropsy team in College Station is devoted to positively impacting human and animal health one dissection at a time. The team is made up of two veterinary technicians, a lab supervisor, and a student worker. Each day, the team can […]

Although the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) strives to process and test all samples quickly, delays occur when samples arrive at the lab in less than ideal conditions. Here are some practices to help mitigate potential delays when submitting samples for antemortem CWD testing. Paperwork All antemortem CWD samples should have a thoroughly […]

A forensic or legal necropsy as defined by the purposes of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) is a necropsy done to attempt to determine the cause of death in cases where the death is known or suspected to be non-natural, there are suspicious circumstances, or there is evidence of foul play. They […]

Click to Skip: Autolysis | Cautery Artifact | Freezing Artifact | Crush Artifact | Sponge Artifact Pathologic artifacts are any structures or features that are not normally present in the living animal. Some are minor, easy to distinguish from normal or diseased tissue, and/or do not interfere with the pathologists’ ability to provide an accurate […]

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 provided noted increased mortality of about 15 birds per day, with no clinical symptoms.  The birds were in flight pens with no vegetation.  Additionally, all birds had varying degrees of feather loss around […]

A 5-year-old Andalusian stallion was presented for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) after being euthanatized due to a history of colic, profuse nasogastric reflux, non-response to treatment, and poor prognosis. Upon opening the abdomen at necropsy, the stomach was found to be severely distended with gas. The duodenum and proximal […]

The body of a 3-month-old goat was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station. This goat had been purchased 3 weeks prior. The goat was euthanized due to sudden onset of neurological signs and was also noted to have a crusty lesion on the lip. Gross necropsy confirmed there […]

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 backyard flock of chickens used as an egg source for the family. Further discussions with the caller revealed the chickens had access to an old building with peeling paint that the chickens […]

Click to Skip Tips for Collecting Needle and Core Bone Biopsy | Tips for Submitting and Entire Leg | Clinical History Submitting samples of bone for histopathological analysis is essential to definitively diagnose most primary bone diseases (e.g., osteosarcoma). However, collecting representative bone biopsy specimens and their histopathological interpretations presents several challenges for the clinician […]

A 76 gram, 9-year-old female knight anole (Anolis equestris) lizard from a zoological collection was euthanized due to poor prognosis after recurrence of a skin neoplasm on the lateral body that was incompletely excised 9 months prior. The neoplasm extended to the head at the time of euthanasia. A mixed chromatophoroma was diagnosed histologically at […]

Diagnosing animal diseases frequently requires a veterinarian or a technician to collect specimens in the field. This can be difficult without having the right tools on hand. For these occasions, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory suggests assembling a necropsy field kit. The kit should include the following tools and materials, all of which […]

A 10-year-old female quarter horse flipped over backwards onto its head after being spooked. Following the incident, the patient made multiple attempts to rise but would flail and progressed to having multiple seizure episodes and bilateral epistaxis. Due to the grave prognosis and perceived likelihood of potential traumatic injury to the brain and spinal cord, […]

A 3-year-old, pet, domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was found dead suddenly and was sent to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for postmortem examination. The ferret was diagnosed with heartworm disease and caval syndrome at necropsy. Three adult heartworms were found in the heart, filling the pulmonary artery, right […]

Tissues from a 5-month-old gerenuk, also known as a giraffe gazelle, were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Canyon for evaluation. The calf had a history of loose stool in addition to an abscess from a previous surgery. The stool remained loose despite dietary changes, oral albendazole, injectable ivermectin, ceftiofur, […]

Haemonchosis refers to parasitic infection with Haemonchus contortus, a blood-sucking parasite that lives in the abomasum. This parasite is also known as the barber pole worm due to the macroscopic appearance of the worms. Heavy loads of H. contortus can cause anemia, hypoproteinemia, weight loss, and death. Infection is best described in small ruminants (sheep and goats). Camelids […]

A less than one-year-old, 48 lb. female sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii) in fair to poor body condition was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. The clinical history indicated the animal was found in a bog area with suspected radial nerve paralysis of the right front leg. Clinically, pneumonia was a […]

Four kangaroos from the same small herd were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for necropsy and were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis. Most of these kangaroos were found dead without exhibiting any prior signs of illness. One was reported to have labored breathing shortly before death. At necropsy, three […]

An eight-month-old sulcate tortoise was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) for necropsy. The history indicated that the tortoise had died unexpectedly with a history of bloating and a progressively soft shell. No clinical diagnosis was made by the referring veterinarian.  A popular pet for reptile lovers, the sulcate tortoise, Geochelone sulcate, […]

An adult black tailed Cribo (Drymarchon melanurus), a snake native to Central and South America, was presented for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for chronic regurgitation.  Upon necropsy examination, the stomach was markedly thickened with prominent rugal folds. The remainder of the visceral organs appeared within normal limits.  Histologically, the […]

Two alligator hatchlings were presented for necropsy to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) from an alligator farm.  The alligator farmer noticed animals in one of his pens had started developing milky looking skin lesions over the beak and the back. The lesions would progress, the animals would stop eating and then ultimately […]

Coccidia are single-celled parasites that are common in many species, including goats. Diagnosis of coccidiosis is most commonly achieved through fecal flotation in specimens from live animals. Characteristic lesions can also be seen at necropsy. This article will highlight a recent case of coccidiosis in a goat kid at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic […]

An 8-month-old male sheep was purchased out of state at the end of September. The animal was clinically normal until November 1 when it was noted to be having a seizure. The animal could not stand or walk and was observed to be chewing on its rear legs.  The clinical signs progressed until November 4 […]

A term sheep fetus was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for a routine necropsy. The fetus had scoliosis. The skull and maxillae were deviated to the left. There was no intact brain tissue in the cranial vault. In place of the brain there was a thin membranous sac filled with reddish […]

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) recently diagnosed Q (Query) fever in a 3-week, pre-term aborted goat fetus. The clinical history indicated that four nannies on the same premises aborted during the course of 48 hours. All aborted nannies showed no other clinical signs of disease. During an external examination of one of […]

A 1.5-year-old, captive, white-tailed deer buck was submitted to TVMDL for necropsy. The animal had a prolonged history of illness for at least 4 months that was not responsive to antibiotic treatment. Reported clinical signs included lethargy and rapid weight loss despite having an appetite. At necropsy, a severe endocarditis was discovered. Large amounts of […]

The carcass of a male, intact, 92 lbs., 2.5-year-old white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) was presented for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) College Station laboratory. Three other deer in the same pen had died recently. Clinical signs included heavy breathing, stumbling, grinding of the teeth, coughing, lethargy, and death. At necropsy, […]

Nematodes of the genus Baylisascaris are recognized as causes of avian cerebral nematodiasis. Baylisascaris columnaris, the ascarid of skunks and Baylisascaris procyonis, the ascarid of raccoons, have been documented as the species responsible for this disease. The disease occurs after consumption of the ascarid eggs in contaminated feed or picked up from the ground of contaminated premises. The bird […]

A flock of approximately 10,000 Coturnix quail, aged 5.5 months, were experiencing mild diarrhea and various vague neurological symptoms resulting in a spike in mortality over the previous few days. Four dead 5.5-month-old Coturnix quail were presented for necropsy at TVMDL’s Gonzales laboratory. The quail were euthanized on the farm prior to submission. Birds weighed […]

 A female Gray Barred chicken was presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales. The chicken was approximately 2 years old and weighed 1.41 kilograms.  Following necropsy evaluation, it was noted that within the coelomic cavity there were numerous 1-4 mm in diameter white nodules on the serosal surface of the […]

The non-stick coating polytetrafluoroethylene (TeflonTM) on cookware, light bulbs, and ovens releases fluorinated gases upon overheating. This is particularly important with pet birds, but can be observed in poultry with polytetrafluoroethylene-coated heat lamp bulbs. These gases are highly toxic to the epithelium of the deep airways and endothelium of the blood capillaries.   Birds exposed to […]

Twelve 11 and 12-week-old broiler breeder pullets from two farms were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, Texas for a diagnostic evaluation. The birds were submitted with a clinical history of having bumps on the face. Upon clinical examination, the birds exhibited nodular protuberances, approximately 1 cm in length, […]

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 primarily a disease of turkeys, although the organism has been shown to infect chickens and other avian species. Initially, it causes a clear nasal exudate and foamy exudate in the medial canthus of the […]

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 death and was submitted to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. At necropsy, the clinical suspicion of aspergillosis was confirmed. All air sacs were coated by green, velvety, […]

Depluming mites (Knemidocoptes gallinae, Neocnemidocoptes gallinae) are found worldwide and are related to the scaly leg mite (Knemidocoptes mutans). Depluming mites prefer feathered portions of the body while scaly-leg mites infest the non-feathered regions. Both mites spend their entire lives on the bird and do not survive long in the environment. The depluming mite burrows into […]

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 examination, the birds had either one or both eyes severely swollen, due to a large accumulation of caseous exudate, and moderate numbers of dark brown, 3 mm diameter, raised nodules […]

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, Ochroconis gallopava (Dactylaris gallopava). O. gallopava is a ubiquitous fungus found in hot spring environments, soil, wood, and decaying vegetation. In birds, ochroconosis has been associated with contaminated litter and egg […]

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 (TVMDL) for necropsy. Postmortem decomposition hindered a thorough diagnostic necropsy. Portions of all major organs were collected, and liver was submitted to TVMDL’s drug testing […]

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 leg problems and swollen tendons. At necropsy examination the birds exhibited outwardly deviated legs, moderately swollen hocks with an accumulation of a tannish, turbid exudate, and swollen gastrocnemius tendons. Serology for […]

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 Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center, TX with a clinical history of respiratory problems and increased mortality. At the necropsy examination, the birds had tracheas with reddened mucosa and excess […]

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. Clinical history noted that it was found dead with no previous clinical illness noticed. The bird was fed an organic layer feed, vegetables, and fruit. History also noted the bird had no […]

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, Texas, for testing. The bird was depressed and showing respiratory distress. The findings at the necropsy examination included moderate emaciation, fragile bones with increased width of the bone growing […]

The causative agent of histomoniasis is a protozoan parasite Histomonas meleagridis. Numerous gallinaceous birds are affected by this parasite including turkeys, chickens, chukar partridges, peafowl, pheasants, and ruffed grouse.  H. meleagridis is commonly transmitted in embryonated eggs of the common cecal worm, Heterakis gallinarum. Chickens and other gallinaceous birds harbor this worm, which acts as a reservoir. In turn, […]

Six 16-week-old male chickens from a flock of 500 birds were presented for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales. History noted one-week of swollen sinuses with minimal abnormal respiratory sounds and negligible mortality.  The incidence was relatively low. Upon necropsy examination, each of the six birds had one of […]

“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 ultimately penetrate the gizzard to objects that may contain zinc or lead leading to zinc or lead toxicosis or some other heavy metal toxicosis. Two case histories are […]

 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 through mechanical transmission of the virus to injured or lacerated skin and can occur at any age. Biting insects, such as […]

Recently, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Center diagnosed gangrenous dermatitis (GD) in three flocks of broilers 44 to 50 days of age. All the submissions had a common clinical history of sudden increased mortality, prostration, and change in color of the skin. At necropsy examination, the birds had purple discoloration of […]

Mycoplasmosis, caused by Mycoplasma gallisepticum and/or M. synoviae, is a group of bacterial diseases that are common maladies of backyard chicken flocks. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is the most common upper respiratory infection of backyard chicken flocks. The characteristic signs of naturally occurring infections are watery eyes, tracheal rales, nasal discharge, and coughing (Figure 1). Feed consumption is reduced, […]

Salt toxicity was 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 Center. Clinical history noted increased mortality starting at 2-weeks-old. At necropsy examination, all the birds had an edematous brain with poorly defined cerebellar folia and cerebrum lobes, thin blood, and […]

A 6-month-old Harris’s hawk was necropsied at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station and was diagnosed with herpesvirus infection as the cause of death. This hawk was used as an abatement bird and had been previously diagnosed with and treated for oral trichomoniasis. The patient passed away and was submitted […]

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 a history of ongoing weight loss and an increase in mortality.  One live bird died prior to examination.  The remaining live birds were mildly depressed. Upon necropsy examination, birds ranged in […]

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 of illness was approximately one week. This bird was the only one that had died out of a flock of four. Upon examination, the bird weighed 692 grams and had […]

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory’s (TVMDL) Center laboratory discovered salmonellosis in a flock of 75 racing pigeons. At the time of specimen submission, 25 birds had already died. Sick birds were showing regurgitation, greenish feces, and sudden death following onset of clinical signs. At necropsy examination, two birds had enlarged and mottled livers […]

Five live 30-week-old laying chickens were presented to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in Gonzales for necropsy. Birds were weak, lethargic, and depressed. The flock had a history of severe production drop starting approximately four weeks following housing in the laying facility at 22 weeks of age. Clinical signs included coughing, droopiness, […]

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 excellent feathering, was in good post-mortem condition, and weighed 1.06 kilograms. Upon gross examination, mild breast muscle atrophy was present.The liver was enlarged approximately five times normal size and contained […]

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 17-week-old, meat type, breeder, chickens. Three dead birds were submitted for laboratory examination. Grossly, all the birds had moderately swollen gastrocnemius tendons and hocks, as well as moderate to large numbers […]

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 little, appeared cold and very thin – only weighing 514 grams. Upon evaluation, marked breast muscle atrophy was present.  The bird appeared pale and the blood […]

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, 8-month-old, Bobwhite quail were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) with a clinical history of increased mortality. History indicated the flock exhibited enteritis and had been […]

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) received several bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) for necropsy. The majority of submitted quail have come from various hunting preserves all across Texas. These facilities are reporting high mortalities, with some finding 200-400 birds dead each day. At necropsy, these quail have all been diagnosed with ulcerative enteritis. Ulcerative […]

Inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) was diagnosed in a flock of 12-day- old, meat type chickens. Six live and 4 dead birds were submitted to the TVMDL-Center Lab with a history of increased mortality, swollen kidneys, and whitish spots livers. At the necropsy examination livers were pale, mottled with a reticular pattern and with subcapsular hemorrhages; […]

Necrotic enteritis associated with coccidiosis was diagnosed in 25-day-old broilers. Six live broilers with a history of increased mortality with birds dying with their legs straight out were submitted for laboratory examination. At necropsy, the mucosa of the jejunum and ileum had a “cloth towel” appearance with loose, small mucosal flakes. Moderate numbers of coccidia […]

Three, approximately two-month-old (two females and one male), pigs of unspecified breed were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy and ancillary testing. The owner reported multiple deaths in animals of various ages over the past 3 to 4 weeks due to respiratory disease. According to the owner, the clinical […]

The carcass of a female, approximately 112-pound Landrace-Yorkshire pig, was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. History noted the pig died suddenly without previous clinical signs. The pig was the only one affected of a group of swine breeding stock destined for research purposes. At necropsy, there was extensive […]

A 13-pound, juvenile, male intact, crossbred pig was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy and ancillary testing. The animal was described as a piglet and no age was stated on the submission form. The piglet was euthanized by the referring veterinarian for submission to the laboratory. The history indicated […]

A litter of twelve German Shorthaired Pointer puppies whelped near their due date and included one mummified fetus and two stillborn puppies. One puppy died at one week of age, another died at two weeks of age, and two more were lost at three weeks of age. The remaining puppies had a poor suckle reflex […]

Three dogs from the same location were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. The three dogs were mixed breed and genetically unrelated. Two of the dogs were 1.5-year-old males and the third was a 3 year-old female. Clinical history was not provided. Necropsy findings were of the same nature […]

Two Presa de Canario puppies from a litter of eight were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. These puppies were estimated to be approximately 1 to 2 weeks old. A total of six puppies from this litter had died, amounting to a mortality rate of 75%. Some puppies were […]

A one-month-old, Ragdoll kitten was presented for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station after passing away subsequent to hospitalization for respiratory illness.  The kitten was part of a large commercial breeding operation where multiple kittens were experiencing similar clinical signs. The gross necropsy findings indicated that the cause […]

Two cats from two separate clinics were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) and were both diagnosed with hepatic amyloidosis. The whole body of the first cat was submitted for necropsy and histopathology. Formalin-fixed sections of liver, gallbladder, and kidney from the second cat were submitted for histopathology following a necropsy […]

An 11 year-old, spayed female, domestic longhaired cat was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy.  The clinical history mentioned depression with periodic vomiting for 2 to 3 days.  The animal was given medication for the vomiting and died soon afterwards.  The primary lesion observed at necropsy was marked splenomegaly; the […]

A 3-year-old domestic short-haired cat from central Texas died shortly after arrival at a veterinary clinic.  On gross necropsy, lesions were minimal; however, histologically every tissue examined demonstrated vascular occlusion with numerous intracytoplasmic schizonts within macrophages.  The schizonts were approximately 40 microns in diameter and contained numerous 1-3 micron merozoites. This cat died from infection […]

An adult female cougar (Felis concolor) suspected to have been involved in a human attack in far west Texas was trapped and euthanized.  The animal was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for diagnostic testing. At necropsy, the carcass was thin with no visceral or subcutaneous fat.  Other significant gross findings included […]

A 7-year-old, spayed female DLH cat was obtained as a stray.  She was noted to have mild hind limb dysmetria characterized by bunny hopping when sprinting.  She could jump and was stable when standing still.  The attending veterinarian tentatively diagnosed cerebellar hypoplasia, most likely due to in utero infection with feline parvovirus. The deficits progressed […]

A 21 day-old calf with a history of multiple leg fractures and no evidence of external injuries was euthanized and sent into the TVMDL for evaluation of the hind limbs and mandible. On gross necropsy examination the mandible contained incisor teeth that were erupted but were all pink, translucent, mobile, and when transected contained pink […]

Any animal demonstrating neurological signs localized to the brain or spinal cord before death may benefit from testing of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collected at necropsy. If rabies is a differential, careful CSF sampling prior to removal of the head and/or brain allows for the potential of further diagnostic investigation if the brain tests negative […]

A seven-day-old angus bull calf with a history of diarrhea was necropsied by the submitting veterinarian. The small intestine, liver, kidney and the lymph node were submitted as fresh and formalin-fixed tissues to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for further testing. The tests requested by the submitting veterinarian included microscopic evaluation (histopathology), […]

An adult, female, 800 lb., Brangus cow in poor body condition was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy. The animal was part of a herd that reported multiple losses in the previous weeks and days. The clinical signs exhibited by other animals was not reported by the owner or […]

Recently, bovine conjoined twin calves were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). Both the dam and sire were angus crosses from a herd of 250 head in the eastern region of Texas. There had been no prior occurrences of conjoined twins or other congenital abnormalities on the property. The dam had […]

A herd of 14, six-month-old crossbred cattle was turned out into a new pasture. Within five days, five head died suddenly. An old barn with various abandoned and discarded metal and equipment was noted to be in the pasture. Chemical poisoning of an unknown origin was suspected. A 500-pound steer was submitted to the Texas […]

In early December, livestock submitted for necropsy at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station demonstrated various signs of declining nutrition.  Not coincidentally, most of Texas received the first frosts and freezes of the year within this same time period. Despite the fact that generous rains in Texas produced an abundance […]

A 12-month-old crossbred bull was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for necropsy.  The clinical history indicated that this animal had periodic seizures and bouts of ataxia for two days.  The animal would appear to be normal between these neurologic episodes.  The referring veterinarian indicated that the neurologic signs […]

A veterinarian was called in to investigate the cause of abortion in a group of 60 well-managed 2-year-old brangus heifers. Four heifers aborted before the investigation was initiated. The herd is closed with a reportedly good biosecurity program and good nutrition. All of the animals are well-vaccinated. A fresh mid-term female fetus and fetal tissues […]

A producer reported a sudden death loss of six head of cattle. Two of the animals were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for necropsy to determine the cause of sudden death. Upon arrival at TVMDL, the owner indicated there had been a history of pneumonia and some of the animals […]

Blackleg is an infectious, non-contagious disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei.  Infection occurs when animals ingest bacterial spores while grazing. The bacterial spores penetrate the intestine and are disseminated via the bloodstream to the skeletal muscle, where the spores remain dormant. Following an event that causes low oxygen conditions (i.e. bruising or damage to the muscle) in […]

A 12-month-old black and white female laying chicken from a small backyard flock was received for necropsy.  The owner had elected euthanasia of this bird following a clinical exam revealing acute abnormal respiration including open mouth breathing.  Another bird in the flock had similar clinical symptoms and had died.  Following euthanasia and refrigeration, the bird […]