Diseases & Diagnoses

PCR testing is impressive. It's considered the go-to method for several cases when sensitive, timely results are needed. However, it's important samples are submitted appropriately and in the right circumstances in order to the get most out of results. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill discuss the science behind PCR testing and how to ensure results answer critical questions with Dr. Megan Schroeder, molecular diagnostics assistant section head.

Bovine abortions can lead to significant repercussions. From a herd health perspective, abortions may be indicative of an infectious pathogen. From a financial aspect, every aborted calf is hit to a producer's pocketbook. There are countless reasons why bovine abortions are feared by producers and just as many reasons as to the causes of abortions. Because of this, labs like TVMDL need multiple sample types so ensure we can perform a full slate of tests to try and narrow down the cause of abortions. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson discuss testing options and possible causes with TVMDL's pathologist in Canyon, Dr. Katie Kleinhenz.

Bone marrow aspirates can be incredibly enlightening. However the process is invasive, so it's important to know when a bone marrow aspirate is most appropriate for testing. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Cathy Campbell discuss the whens, whys, and hows of collecting and testing bone marrow aspirates with TVMDL's newest clinical pathologist, Dr. Emily Zuber.

Mycoplasma spp. are the smallest free-living bacteria known to science. They are also unique in they lack a cell-wall which means typical antibiotics don't work. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson discuss mycoplasmas with Dr. Tegner Jacobson, microbiology section head in Canyon. They cover different types of mycoplasmas, testing options, and clinical signs that may lead to a mycoplasma diagnosis.

Biosecurity is an incredibly important factor in animal health. Diseases don't always carry obvious signs of infection and more often than that not, silently move through groups of animals. That's why it's critical biosecurity practices are implemented. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson chat with Sage Barraza, serology technician in Canyon, to discuss common biosecurity practices and some diagnostic testing options to get head of the spread.

Liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) is a powerful methodology that is used for several tests at TVMDL, most notably, the Performance Animal Drug Screen. Knowing the stakes of a positive result, TVMDL works hard to ensure testing is performed accurately. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Michael Piccione chat with Analytical Chemistry Section Head Dr. Mike Henderson to discuss LC/MS testing and how it ensures safe and fair competition.

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a well known virus in the horse community, mostly due to its highly infectious nature. Clinical signs vary. Some horses present with very obvious signs where other horses present with essentially none. Testing is often associated with the Coggins test. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill discuss the virus and testing options with Kalyn Green, assistant section head in serology.

Johne's Disease primarily affects ruminants, such as sheep, cattle, and goats. Depending on the species, clinical signs can vary, but often times the shedding can occur while animals still appear healthy. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson discuss sampling and testing considerations with Molecular Diagnostics Assistant Section Head Dr. Megan Schroeder.

In light of the EHV-1 outbreak, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill sat down with Assistant Agency Director for Microbiology Dr. Erika Schwarz to talk about sampling and testing options. This is a short episode packed full of timely and relevant information!

In large animals, reproductive failure or abortion has a multifactorial etiology. As such, there are several diagnostic routes ones one should consider. But, where do you start? In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill sit down with Madison Carroll, a technician in the College Station lab's clinical pathology section to discuss best practices and testing options that may assist in large animal reproduction.

Blackleg, also known as clostridial myositis, is a serious, often fatal disease that primarily affects cattle. It's caused by a spore-forming bacterium that is commonly found in soil and the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy animals and has deadly impacts, if not caught in time. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson visit with Dr. Tegner Jacobson, microbiology section head in Canyon, to discuss the disease and testing options that may be of interest to producers.

A dermatophyte is the more scientific term for skin fungus that requires keratin for growth and can cause infections of the hair, skin, and nails in large and small animals and in humans. Most commonly, this condition is known as ringworm, despite there being no worms involved. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Cathy Campbell discuss testing options with the microbiology laboratory supervisor in College Station, Kelsey Bond.

Whether you're in or outside of veterinary medicine, you've likely heard of botulism. Botulism is a rare, but serious, disease caused by a bacteria. Timing is key to accurate diagnosis, but don't let speed trump safety precautions. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill chat with Kelsey Bond, microbiology laboratory supervisor, on the causes of botulism and the diagnostics available for clients.

Sorghum species, including Sudan grass and Johnson grass are considered cyanogenic plants, meaning they contain compounds that can release cyanide when the plant is damaged or stressed. It's crucial livestock owners stay vigilant during these conditions as cyanide toxicity can lead to sudden death. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Alexis Thompson sit down with Julie Anna Prusak, a technician in the analytical chemistry section, to discuss the environmental conditions that can lead to cyanide toxicity, testing options in suspected cases, and what livestock producers can do to stay ahead of the risk.

Equine Rhinitis Viruses A and B can present like many other respiratory illnesses. Testing is the only way to rule these viruses out, but that process brings a new set of questions. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill discuss both viruses and TVMDL's testing options with the agency's assistant agency director for microbiology, Dr. Erika Schwarz.

Sample submission is arguably the most important step of the testing process. If specimens aren't submitted properly testing may be yield valuable results, if any. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Michael Piccione sit down with Dr. Ashley Arnold, client services section head, to discuss to the submission process and how clients can mitigate potential issues.

Biopsies are incredibly useful diagnostic tools. Small sections of tissue can offer a host of critical health information, however, it's important biopsies are collected and submitted properly to ensure they are useful. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Cathy Campbell chat with Dr. Randi Gold, one of TVMDL's pathologists, to cover tips and tricks for getting the most information out of bone biopsy submissions.

Coccidioidomycosis, also known as Valley Fever, is a fungal infection. The infection is acquired through inhalation of airborne arthrospores from disturbed soil. Once inhaled, the spores transform into spherules within the host's lungs, leading to a localized or disseminated infection. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Cathy Campbell sit down with Kalyn Green, assistant section head for serology, to cover clinical signs, diagnostics, and result interpretation.

Texas summers offer the ideal ingredients for cyanobacteria algal blooms, otherwise known as blue-green algae. Despite the vibrant colors, these blooms can lead to devastating health effects in animals, if the toxins are ingested. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Michael Piccione sit down with Chase Gwinner, one of the analytical chemistry section's scientists charged with identifying blue-green algae for clients.

Rabies is an incredibly contagious and dangerous virus. Once clinical signs appear, the disease is almost always fatal. However, there are preventative strategies that can mitigate effects and improve outcomes. TVMDL doesn't test for rabies, but we can assist in sample collection. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Dominguez and Dr. Semira Mancill sit down with Lauren Roese, necropsy laboratory supervisor, to cover the disease, the importance and preventative vaccinations, and the testing procedure for suspect cases.