Information that covers MCF in ruminants.

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) offers digital toxicology to account-holding clients. Digital toxicology provides evaluation of photos taken with smart phones, or other digital cameras, and an official report identifying items photographed (where possible) including an attachment with labeled photos for later reference – an advantage over shipping items to the laboratory […]

Fumonisin B1 is the most prevalent of several fumonisin mycotoxins (B1, B2, B3) produced by Fusarium molds in corn. Corn contamination can occur at very high levels when permissive environmental conditions coincide with vulnerable points in corn kernel production. Equine Leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) Horses and other equids, as well as rabbits, are the most fumonisin-sensitive species. […]

Prior to diagnostic testing, it’s important to determine what factors would lead to the most comprehensive assessment of an animal’s condition. Each case must be evaluated individually in order to establish the most practical diagnostic testing route.  Collection Guidelines What is an ideal serum sample? Since most serologic testing utilizes serum, blood should be collected […]

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) performs numerous tests using serum. Proper collection, preparation, and packaging for transportation is imperative to obtaining a quality serum sample. Serum samples that arrive at TVMDL which are hemolyzed and/or lipemic may not be acceptable for testing. Accurate results start with an ideal sample. Ideal Sample Clear […]

Hundreds of samples arrive daily at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for testing. Testing accuracy often depends on submission of the proper specimen for the assay, particularly for molecular diagnostics.  To ensure the appropriate sample is submitted for molecular diagnostics at TVMDL, please consult the website for specific details associated with the […]

Hundreds of samples arrive daily at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for testing. Testing accuracy often depends on the submission of the proper specimen for the assay, particularly for molecular diagnostics. With the proper sample, we can perform the assay and provide the most timely and accurate results without delay.  While results […]

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 […]

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 […]

Dermatology cases are one of the most common types of cases seen by general practitioners. A crucial diagnostic tool in these cases is the skin biopsy. They are indicated in cases that do not respond to normal therapy, pustular, or ulcerative disease, and suspected neoplasia.  Before Taking a Skin Biopsy Prior treatment should also be […]

Click to Skip: Bone Marrow Aspirate Procedure | Bone Marrow Core Biopsy Procedure Bone marrow testing is used to diagnose and monitor bone marrow diseases and CBC abnormalities. Full evaluation of bone marrow requires a CBC the day of the bone marrow collection, bone marrow aspiration, and a bone marrow core biopsy.  Indications for bone […]

Although there have been substantial advances in benchtop hematology instrumentation for veterinary species, manual evaluation of a blood smear remains a vital part of a complete blood count (CBC). At the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), all CBCs include manual blood smear examination by a highly skilled clinical pathology technician, a clinical pathologist, […]

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) offers digital cytology to account-holding clients. Digital cytology provides rapid evaluation of photos taken with microscope cameras or smart phones. This service provides an official report and cytologic interpretation, typically within one hour of submission (during business hours). To enhance this service, submission of glass slides for […]

TVMDL received skin biopsy samples from several bearded dragon lizards with a patchy dermatitis that grossly presents as discolored skin with a crusty surface.  Microscopic evaluation showed marked hyperkeratosis and mixed leukocytic infiltrates in the upper dermis (Figure 1).  A PAS stain revealed the presence of fungal hyphal elements in the thick surface layer of […]

A viral-induced Shope fibroma was diagnosed cytologically in an adult domestic rabbit with several subcutaneous masses. Shope (rabbit) fibroma virus is spread by biting arthropods and can result in the formation of single or multiple tumors in wild and domestic rabbits. Cytologically, these tumors can appear markedly atypical, mimicking a malignant neoplasm. Thorough clinical history […]

Besnoitia spp. are protozoal parasites that form tissue cysts in intermediate hosts. Besnoitiosis caused by B. darlingi is well described in Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and cats serve as the definitive host. In opossums, B. darlingi infection can typically be identified externally by the presence of cutaneous, 2-4 mm, round to ovoid, smooth, white nodules. The pinnae and mucous membranes […]

Chordomas are among the most common diagnoses in ferret biopsy samples submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL). This article highlights a recent case of a ferret chordoma that was diagnosed at our laboratory. The tumor was located at the tip of the tail of a 3-year-old ferret. The tail tip was […]

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 variety of fresh and fixed tissues, including lung, liver, kidney, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes, from a 7-year-old, 300 lb. llama were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for histopathological examination, bacterial culture, and sensitivity testing. Routine bacterial cultures were attempted from the lymph node and lung samples on blood […]

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 […]

An eight-month-old veiled chameleon exhibited white, patchy, crusty skin lesions on the dorsal crest above the hind legs (Fig. 1). A skin biopsy specimen was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for histopathology and a swab and skin crust samples were submitted for routine bacterial and fungal culture. The swab sample […]

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, […]

A skin sample from a 35-year old captive python was submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for fungal culture. The submitting veterinarian noted the snake was euthanized because it exhibited severe ulcerative skin lesions, was lethargic, and had stopped eating.  The skin sample was set up on five different agar plates […]

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 […]

A rabbit breeding colony experienced multiple sudden deaths in a barn that typically had few death losses.  The rabbits were noted grossly to have hemorrhage in the cecum and colon.  Tissues from a 20-month-old female Flemish Giant rabbit were submitted for histopathology and bacterial culture.  Histologically the rabbit had a marked, diffuse necrotizing and hemorrhagic […]

Too often the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) receives samples where there is a concern for rabies testing but the brain tissue submitted is not suitable for testing by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in Austin. Usually the problem is an incomplete sample where only half the brain is submitted.  Less commonly, […]