Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Lauren Trainer

Amirreza Moghisi

Katherine Pollack

Laura Greene

Renee Rohme

Wadner Normil

Phillip Dean

Amal Mouhamed

Andrew Woodward

Caitlyn Connor

Juan Valencia hernandez

Stephanie Kleine

Kristen Hamilton

Poultry health is top priority for UGA-Merck partnership

Home to Gainesville, the “Poultry Capital of the World,”  the state of Georgia places a premium on the health of its commercial poultry population. That is no more evident than through the prolific partnership between Georgia’s flagship land-grant university and a global leader in pharmaceuticals, Merck Animal Health.  

Erin Barbely

Walter Mcnicholas

Lucas Kelley

Alexandra Weeks

Shannon Johnson

Jessica Wallace

Elsa Wilson

Alex Kershaw

Holly Johnson

Ignacio Scanarotti

Rafael Freitas

Averi Hardwick

Sarah Ozawa

Sophie Knafo

Timothy Bolton

Atalani Jackson

Clare Garcia

Ashley Villatoro

Dikshya Khanal

Vanessa Mendieta reis

Jiayi Peng

Suman Bhattarai

Zijing Cao

Emily Lindgreen

Alicia Harriman

Ifeoluwa Oyeku

Kuldeep Chouhan

Oksana Anderson

Dr. Oksana Anderson is an Academic Advisor I for the Biomedical Physiology Program students, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Prior to joining the University of Georgia, Dr. Anderson worked as an Advisement Coordinator and an Academic Advisor for competitive pre-health programs at Athens Technical College. She completed her MA in Education […]

Sam Lovell

Leah Hixon

Taylor Stephens

Courtney Hood

Camila Da silva

Marcelo Jorge

Peter Nakhla

David Guerrero

Justin Sanders

Sabrina Dumanowsky

Drew Cribbs

Grace Vick

Wyatt Pitts

G’re Marc

Lola Hammond

Skyler Owens

Jackson Merriam

Saumya Gade

Ana Zamora

Elizabeth Latham

Valerie Booth

Isabella Morgan

Camden Cronic

Jacob Stevens

Daniel Argudo

Rebecca Pearson

Ashley Gooch

William Simms

Jina Lim

Cheyanne King

Alec Green

Elisabeth Chizek

Allyssa Lee

Ann Seliger

Patricia Brown

Gargi Khadse

Cristin Leonard

Elaina Lee

Hannah Thompson

John Laney

Alexandra Grant

Bailey Ward

Olanrewaju Oladosu

Jomari Rivera reyes

Chloe Newman

Shelby Self

Caleb Studstill

John Brick

Laura Vickers

Caitlin Berry

Hannah Hall

Catherine Kynoch

George Okelley

Yingzhen Kong

Madeleine Murray

Sharon Kerwin

Amina Lomini

Allyssa Lewis

Sihua Peng

Connor Norris

Dickson Currey

Kartikey Sankhdher

Jackson Borders

John Anderson

Alexis Young

Jacob Zipperer

Garrett Cribbs

Kaitlyn Wright

Joseph Fragale

Akane Someya

Jacklin Pletcher

Claudia Blanco

Eutalio Pimenta

Kya Mckenzie

Stacia Fink

Amanda Tinkle

Mary Reuter

Anil Kumar

Jessica Bramhall

Allison Palmer

Adrea Mueller

James Murray

Karly Pecua

Michelle Kendall

Jeanne Bleuet

Bridget Ringenwald

Oscar Ramirez

Courtney Bush

Christine Ruffin

Katrina Iobst

Issabella Asamoah

Daniela Maura

Samantha Fedotova

Lasha Hicks bennett

Caley Ellington

Katie Leblanc

Benjamin Benson

Megan Crawford

Alexander TRUE

Nikki Yager

Megan Gremling

Madison Livingston

Allison Gary

Klao Runcharoon

Syamily Shaji

Josie Gamble

Esther Palmer

Stephanie Schiavone

Camila Talavera

Alex Jahns

Frank Fialkiewicz

Kathryn Dickerson

Megan Sha

Justin Ringhofer

Katherine Simpson

Lauryn Cooper

Ali Aly

Gina Cipolla

Gregory Scott

Carol Tobias

Manju Sharma

Oluwatosin Babasola

Elizabeth Dale

Rachael Green

Destiny Prezzano

Gabriella Sandberg

Amanda Blubaugh

Raquel Francisco

Adrianna Szostek

Breanna Timani

Alainah Bhutta

Alexandra Whitfield

Allison Arne

A Pawsitive New Approach to Veterinary Care

Dr. Andrea Johnson is a 2001 UGA College of Veterinary Medicine graduate. Because of her strong bond to her pony, Brownie, and her soul-dog, Tully, she pursued mixed animal medicine and accomplished her lifelong dream of owning a practice.

Mark Tompkins is appointed director of UGA Center for Vaccines and Immunology

Mark Tompkins, Ph.D., UGA Athletic Association Distinguished Professor in Virology and Immunology, has been appointed director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology (CVI) in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Established in 2015, the CVI is made up of a premier team of researchers that are leading the way in […]

Distinguished Professors bring a wealth of experience and hope for new advancements to their roles with CVM

What makes a professor distinguished? In the College of Veterinary Medicine, it’s a clinician who sees the need for 24/7 emergency care for animals and builds a program to provide just that. And it’s researchers who dive deep into the mechanisms of well-known but little understood diseases in hopes of […]

Sierra Rojas

Cody Johnson

Morgan Grey

Amber Hall

Katherine Major

Killian Ross

Michael Pisciotta

Austin Hill

Michael Catucci

Selena Simmons

Brittany Henry

Abigail Armwood

Shannon Kirejczyk

Michael Broich

Lucinda (Cindy) Dixon

Dr. Dixon is a graduate of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, she completed an equine medical and surgical internship. She has worked in both small and mixed animal private practice and is a certified veterinary acupuncturist. In addition, she has over a decade of experience in […]

Tori Rudolph

Hannah Nicholson

Hayley Lindsey

Andrew Wall

David Schofield

Jiazhang Cai

Osayomore Lacour

Anna Hu

Alexander Jochmans

Sarah Bell

Eden O connell

Melanie Reed

Sergio Valdez espinoza

Jacob Shurba

Lindsey Clark

Christopher Zdyrski headshot

Christopher Zdyrski

Dr. Christopher Zdyrski obtained his PhD in Genetics and Genomics from Iowa State University where he focused on the culture and characterization of novel 3D organoids (stem cells). Dr. Zdyrski currently works in the SMART Comparative Medicine Laboratory at UGA’s CVM, led by Dr. Jonathan Mochel and Dr. Karin Allenspach. […]

Christopher Basler

Michael Corder

Jadalynn Ginn

Kris Jay

Michaella Rubio

Carla Foditsch

Yaping Li

Rachel Brown

Yuanxin Chen

Cosar Uzun

Kelly Brunick

Mark Richt raises funds for Parkinson’s research

Led by former University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt, the Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl raised more than $758,000 for Parkinson’s disease and Crohn’s disease research at UGA.

Dr. Stephen Divers, pictured with a Galapagos tortoise

The Aesculapian is Back

Esc-a-what? The Aesculapian, the official magazine of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, is back after a long hiatus. You don’t have to pronounce it correctly to enjoy the read, but we’re including a convenient pronunciation key with every issue just the same. No matter how you say it, Aesculapian is […]

Melissa Hollis

Agnes Bourgois mochel

Abby Raybon

Rachel Boleman

Sneha Dharwadkar

Hadley Copeland

Shaun Van den hurk

Syed Islam

Autumn Marlow

Headshot photo of Ricardo Mendes

Ricardo Mendes

Before joining UGA, Dr. Mendes worked as a full professor in a University in Brazil, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, Santa Catarina state, and has been granted several research grants at federal and state levels. He has a strong background in veterinary pathology, starting with a Master’s degree in this […]

Lucas Demey

Thomas Higgins

Carrie Schmidt

Mackenzie Long headshot

Mackenzie Long

After completing her DVM training at the University of Georgia in 2018, Dr. Mackenzie Long received her PhD and veterinary clinical pathology boards certification while training at The Ohio State University. Dr. Long is passionate about enhancing veterinary oncology diagnostics and treatment. She is particularly interested in better characterizing and targeting resistance […]

Meghan Lancaster

Deja Keen

Camilla Quattrini

Camilla Quattrini

Alexa Bish-jones

Roshan Paudel

Dikshya Regmi

Ben Enyetornye

Marco Reina antillon

Katie Metcalf

Tessa Dimick

Taylor Fisher

Drea Marlow

Anna Barber

Mekala Sundaram headshot

Mekala Sundaram

Dr. Sundaram is a new Assistant Professor appointed by Infectious Diseases and the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. A quantitative ecologist by training, she began her academic path at the University of Mumbai where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences and Biochemistry. Her love of ecology led […]

Dhrue Vinson

Jenna Wilson

Selorm Sovi

Jessica Hammock

Akaterina Davros

Ethan Stinchcomb

Paula Bartlett

Dagmar Nelson

Ms. Nelson, originally from near Frankfurt in Germany, has lived in Athens, GA since 1989. She has worked at the University of Georgia since 2001; after advising students at UGA’s College of Engineering for 11 years, Ms. Nelson joined the College of Veterinary Medicine in September 2023 and is excited […]

Cynthia Ward

Arthur Jones

Dixy Phillips

Juliana Calil brondani

Taylor Strickland

Kaitlyn Freeman

Amber Richards

Photo of Mary Roach and Jaxon running on the beach

UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital helps clients deal with stress and grief

Noelle Browning, a veterinary social worker, helps clients deal with the stress of having a sick pet and the grief of having one die. Graduate students from the UGA School of Social Work are interning there and learning about the human-animal bond. Listen to the story on WUGA

Jordan Parker

Isha Mhatre winters

Jacob Boos

Karin Allenspach headshot

Karin Allenspach jorn

Dr. Allenspach is a clinician-scientist and has been employed as a faculty in academia for the last 20 years. Dr. Allenspach has a current H-index of 43 with over 5,700 citations and 230 publications. She has broad background in small animal internal medicine (Diplomate European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine […]

Halee Gillespie

Gable Peacock

Elizabeth Greif

Xinrui Xiong

Pamela Hanley

Mohamed Elbadawy headshot

Mohamed Elbadawy

Dr. Mohamed Elbadawy, BSc, MS, PhD (Veterinary Pharmacology) has been employed in academia as a faculty for the past 15 years with a demonstrated history of teaching and research. Dr. Elbadawy has a lot of high quality publications and patents in the veterinary pharmacology, toxicology, and cancer biology. Dr. Elbadawy […]

Micaela Rosenthal

David Haas

Annamaria Scalia

Libby Siedell headshot

Libby Siedell

Libby serves as a medical illustrator for Educational Resources. She received her BA in Biological and Pre-Medical Illustration from Iowa State University, after which she earned her MA in Biological and Medical Illustration from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Art as Applied to Medicine. There, she […]

Charles Stilz

Chunki Kim

Leigh Anne Clark headshot

Leigh Anne Clark

Dr. Leigh Anne Clark earned her doctoral degree in 2004 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University studying exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German shepherd dogs. After graduation, she remained in the Department of Pathobiology as a Research Assistant Professor, investigating the genetics of dermatomyositis in Collies and […]

Shiquan Cui

Tatum Mortimer

Tatum Mortimer

As bacterial pathogens become increasingly resistant to antimicrobials, new interventions are needed to manage their spread in human and animal populations. My lab is focused on uncovering the mechanisms of adaptation that contribute to pathogen success. We use computational tools alongside microbial whole genome sequencing data to reconstruct pathogen transmission, […]

Daniel Sebastian

Arturo Barahona

Jennifer Gordon

Yoonhee Han

Fatma Bayrakdar

Jonathon Williams

Maureen Bennett

Valeria Benitez Vera

Emily Rawlings

Ji eun Park

Dr. Mochel and family

Jonathan Mochel

Dr. Jon P. Mochel is a Professor of Systems Pharmacology in the Department of Pathology and the Founding Director of the Precision One Health Initiative at the University of Georgia (UGA). He has an extensive background in clinical and basic pharmacology and toxicology and is a board-certified veterinary pharmacologist and […]

Meghan Fick

Christina Marino

Christina Marino

Townes Hillier

Alison Jeffrey

David Birchler

Anna Carroll

Gabrielle Rands

Douglas Paton

Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria, is a deadly parasite that is spread through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes. My lab is committed to developing new and novel ways to reduce global malaria burden, and studies the interaction of Plasmodium parasites with their Anopheles mosquito host, with an emphasis […]

Jung ha Byun

Bryan Torres

Bryan Torres

Kali Griffith

Shyla Giancola

Sarah Camlic

Rachel Mccurley

Gillian Herbert

Megan Reeves headshot

Megan Sifuentes

Megan Reeves Sifuentes, like many in this field, started out as a curious kid with a love for exploring the world and drawing what she found. As a career choice, applying artistic skill to the field of scientific education felt like the perfect choice. Megan earned her BFA in Scientific […]

Kelsea Guest

Maria Orbay-cerrato

Brayden Smith

Rachel Pfeifle

Galápagos Islands team photo posing with a giant tortoise

UGA Professor renowned for surgical skills assists with giant tortoise conservation in Galápagos Islands

International partnership allows release of once captive animals Pictured above, from left: Veterinary Technician Nia Chau, Second-year Resident Dr. Kelsey Trumpp and Drs. Stephen Divers and Sam Rivera, kneeling, and Joe Flanagan, standing, with a giant tortoise. Why? It’s the question that drives scientific discovery. It’s also the question most […]

Student Spotlight - J.W. Gentry

Student Spotlight – J.W. Gentry

J.W. Gentry (DVM, 2023) will take his learning home to Middle Georgia to assist food animal producers Watching J.W. Gentry work the Georgia Grown Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fair in Perry is like watching a small-town mayor meet his constituents at a barbecue on the town square. Everybody […]

Photo of Junebug (dog)

Junebug Gerke Success Story

Junebug is a 7 year old, mixed breed dog who was adopted by the Gerke family. Junebug’s family hoped that when they rescued her and provided her with love and safety that she would be okay, but unfortunately that was not the case. As a rescue, Junebug had never interacted […]

Number Seven Best Veterinary School Graphic

UGA CVM advances closer to No. 1 in US News Rankings of VetMed Schools

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine rose to No. 7 in the latest ranking of veterinary colleges nationwide by U.S. News and World Report.  The CVM has consistently placed in the top 10 in past rankings, and this distinction now places the CVM in the top 5 of […]

Eye Exam Event Banner

Registration now open for free eye exams for service animals

The University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital is once again offering free eye exam screenings to service and working animals this May as part of the 13th Annual American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) and Epicur National Service Animal Eye Exam Event. Registration by Sunday, April 30 at www.ACVOeyeexam.org is required to […]

Teddy Austin

Teddy Austin – Success Story

Meet Teddy! Teddy is a four-year-old mixed breed dog who was a behavioral medicine patient at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital (UGA VTH). When Teddy’s family adopted him, he was fearful of everyone and everything. Prior to receiving treatment at the UGA VTH, Teddy spent his time hiding […]

Fungal infections cost U.S. $6.7B in a year

New research from the University of Georgia found that fungal infections account for $6.7 billion in health care spending in 2018. And that’s just the cases that were directly responsible for inpatient hospital stays. Combined with secondary infections and diagnoses, the total cost of hospital stays associated with fungal infections […]

UGA researchers developing new models for malaria drug development and testing

Two UGA researchers are working to make it easier to develop effective treatments for malaria, a disease that sickens millions worldwide and kills hundreds of thousands each year. In tropical climates around the globe, malaria poses a grave risk to already vulnerable populations. In 2019, the World Health Organization estimated […]

Batman

Batman the cat enjoys more than pursuing villains and chilling at the bat cave. He also enjoys bobbing for frogs in our creek. His head-dunking led to a yeast infection in his ear and a trip to see the dermatology department at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Thanks to the […]

Medical scientist in lab using pipette

Operational Impacts of COVID-19

Our Hospital and Community Practice Clinic are open at this time. However, our appointment availability varies from service to service due to our backlog of cancelled appointments and our busy emergency caseload. Please call for more information. We continue curbside service at this time. . This means we will not be […]

CVM alums pursue global health mission across the world

Imagine taking your daily evening run to the Coliseum in Rome, hearing colleagues down the hall speak in five different languages and running social media accounts for World Rabies Day. That’s how Julie Thompson (DVM/MPH ’19) spent her three-month internship with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations […]

Medical scientist in lab using pipette

DVM-PhD program

The College’s DVM-PhD dual degree program is designed to enhance the career development of students with an interest in science, veterinary research, and graduate education by pursuing a DVM and PhD degree concurrently. Also known as the Veterinary Medical Scientist Training Program (VMSTP), this innovative program produces scientists with a […]

Emergencies

Here to help when you need us most

Emergency & Critical Care

SMALL ANIMAL EMERGENCY SERVICE UPDATE: Please call ahead so that we can assess the nature of your emergency and advise you of our current wait times. Please note that at times we do experience high volumes, which may impact our ability to serve you. If necessary, we will assist you […]

Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery

Caring for cats, dogs, exotic animals and wildlife through education, service and research

Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Winter Break In observance of UGA’s Winter Break, we will be open for emergencies only from Wednesday, December 25th, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. If your animal experiences a medical emergency, please contact our Emergency Services at 706.542.3221. Normal business hours and operation will resume Thursday, January 2nd, 2025. […]

Spillover: students participate in disease outbreak simulation

Do you ever wonder what would happen if a dangerous disease threatened our community? Who responds? What are the steps taken to contain it and protect the public’s health? Thirty-three students at the University of Georgia found out recently when they participated in Spillover: A One Health Infectious Disease Outbreak […]

VTH building

Hospital & Primary Care

Winter Break In observance of UGA’s Winter Break, we will be open for emergencies only from Wednesday, December 25th, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. If your animal experiences a medical emergency, please contact our Emergency Services at 706.542.3221. Normal business hours and operation will resume Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.

New price for Chlamydia spp. antibody titer determination by IFA, as of July 1, 2017

As of July 1, 2017, the price for Chlamydia spp. antibody titer determination by IFA will increase by $4 in order to offset the rise in cost for testing. The new prices will be: $36 for IFA serology The Chlamydia spp. panel with antibody determination with IFA will be $68 […]

Take-home glucose monitors for diabetic pets

Did you know that the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers iPro continuous glucose monitoring devices for cats and dogs with diabetes mellitus? The devices, commonly used for human patients with diabetes, are used to gather data on the patient's response to insulin. The Hospital has been offering this service since 2013.

UGA CVM Alumni Association Recognizes Four

The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine recognized four alumni with awards for service to the college and the veterinary profession during its 53rd Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend.

Supporting Georgia’s agriculture industry one herd at a time

The beef and dairy industries in Georgia are significant contributors to the state’s economy.Helping to safeguard these important commodities is the goal of the production medicine team at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This service travels to dairy and beef cattle operations throughout the state and works closely with producers and their veterinarians to improve herd health. 

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Preparedness

Between December 2014 and June 2015, an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) occurred in the Pacific Northwest and the Mid-western states

Advanced radiation therapy now available

When the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital moved into its new facility in March 2015, it upgraded its linear accelerator to one of the most advanced models available, the Trilogy® system, putting UGA on the leading edge of veterinary radiation therapy nationwide. 

Possible Rabies bite/exposure case?

Possible Rabies bite/exposure case?

The Facts on Trichomoniasis

Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease in cattle that can cause significant economic losses in herds. The disease is caused by a single celled parasite, Tritrichomonas foetus. Though the true prevalence of trichomoniasis in cattle is not known, several states have recently enacted stringent rules to control the importation or transmission of the disease.

Macrorhabdus Ornithogaster Infection in Pet and Farmed Birds

Macrorhabdus ornithogaster is a well-known cause of proventriculitis in birds. Although this organism was originally termed Megabacterium due to its large, rod-like appearance, the organism has since been classified as an anamorphic ascomycetous yeast. Clinical signs may be variable and include sudden death or chronic wasting. Diarrhea or enteritis has also been reported in birds colonized by Macrorhabdus; however, these birds can have concurrent enteric parasites, bacterial infections, or other diseases that could cause diarrhea.

Sparganosis: A Zoonotic Cestodiasis

Sparganosis is an infection of tissues by second stage larvae (spargana or plerocercoid) of pseudophyllidean tapeworms. Sparganosis due to pseudophyllidean cestodes such as Sparganum spp. (e.g. Sparganum proliferum) and Spirometra spp. (e.g. Spirometra mansonoides, Spirometra erinaceieuropaei) can occur in body cavities or in tissues of intermediate and paratenic hosts. Sparganum proliferum is phylogenetically identified as a new species in the order pseudophyllidea. The life cycle and the definitive host of Sparganum proliferum is unknown but believed to be similar to that of Spirometra spp. The definite hosts of Spirometra spp. are carnivores, and the eggs are shed in feces. The eggs embryonate in the environment, hatch in water and release coracidia. Coracidia are ingested by intermediate hosts, copepod crustaceans (Cyclops spp.), and develop into procercoids. Second intermediate hosts including fish, reptiles, and amphibians ingest infected copepods and acquire procercoid larvae. Procercoids develop into plerocercoids in the second intermediate hosts. Predators of the second intermediate hosts are infected by the plerocercoids. Plerocercoidosis/sparganosis develops after ingesting procercoids or plerocercoids with contaminated water or infected intermediate hosts. Humans and other mammals including apes, pigs, dogs, and cats can serve as paratenic or second intermediate hosts and develop sparganosis.

Mushroom Intoxication

Two cases of mushroom toxicosis recently have been diagnosed at the TVDIL. The first case involved a 2 year-old mixed breed dog that died following a brief course of vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The second case involved a 12 week-old Labrador Retriever puppy with a history of vomiting with death occurring within 24 hours of the onset of clinical signs. The submitting veterinarian noted that the owners had seen the puppy eat a mushroom. Both dogs had submassive to massive hepatic necrosis which is very typical for mushroom poisoning.

Enterotoxemia in Sheep and Goats

Enterotoxemia, also known as overeating or pulpy kidney disease, is a condition caused by Clostridium perfringens type D. These bacteria are normally found in the soil and as part of the normal microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy sheep and goats. Under specific conditions, these bacteria can rapidly reproduce in the animal’s intestine, producing large quantities of toxins. The epsilon toxin produced by C. perfringens Type D is the most significant toxin in producing the disease. Young animals are most susceptible. Sudden and high mortality rates may occasionally occur in lambs and kids. Although adult animals are also susceptible to enterotoxemia, they develop immunity due to frequent exposure to low doses of these toxins.

Veterinary Forensic Pathology Cases – Who Can You Call?

The importance of the veterinarian’s role in animal cruelty cases has recently been highlighted in the news media and numerous journals. In December, the AVMA endorsed a document called “Practical Guidance for the Effective Response by Veterinarians to Suspected Animal Cruelty, Abuse and Neglect” which is intended to aid veterinarians in establishing individual, practice-specific policies and procedures that best serve the needs of the animal, the client, the veterinarian and the community.

Renal Pathology Consultation Service

Kidney disease is a leading cause of illness and death in dogs and cats. Treatment of acute and chronic kidney disease is most effective when the disease is recognized early in its course and when treatment is instituted with knowledge of the underlying disease process. To aid in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease, the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is now offering renal diagnostic and treatment expertise through its newly established Renal Pathology Consultation Service.

Ante-Mortem Diagnosis of Canine Distemper

Canine distemper virus (CDV) infects and causes disease in domestic dogs and many wild carnivores, including coyotes, ferrets, foxes, lions, mink, raccoons, and skunks. Although sustained vaccination of domestic dog populations has greatly reduced the incidence of canine distemper, the disease is still prevalent worldwide and now occurs in sporadic outbreaks. Young puppies between 3 and 6 months of age are more susceptible to infection and undergo more severe disease than adult dogs. However, non-vaccinated older dogs are also highly susceptible to infection and disease.

Toxicity Due to Nandina domestica in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Many cedar waxwings were found dead in a yard in Thomas County, Georgia, in April, 2009. Five of these submitted to the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, where they were examined grossly and microscopically.

The Daily Life of a Pathologist

Veterinary pathologists are challenged daily with making a diagnosis on a variety of surgical biopsies. Many times clinicians will opt for surgical biopsy hoping for a definitive diagnosis that will give relevant information for therapy and prognosis. The pathologist becomes that one person from whom clinicians and owners wait for an answer. At times, however, the histological findings are inconclusive. Some examples of challenging diagnoses are discussed below.

Bovine Enterovirus

Bovine enterovirus (BEV) belongs to the family Picornaviridae (picornaviruses), which consists of small (18–30 nm), nonenveloped viruses with an icosahedral capsid that encloses a single copy of positive-sense RNA genome. Bovine enterovirus is in the genus Enterovirus, along with poliovirus, human enterovirus, coxsackieviruses, swine vesicular disease virus, echovirus 11, and others. Originally classified into several serotypes, only two serotypes, BEV-1 and BEV-2 are now recognized.Because of the unavailability of type specific antisera or a commercially available diagnostic test, a genotypic classification, which supports previous recognized serological distinctions has been proposed.

Quality in the Laboratory

The Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories are two of only 41 accredited veterinary laboratories in North America. We are accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). The goal of the AAVLD is to assist Labs meet or exceed the World Organization for Animal Health Quality Standards and Guidelines for Veterinary Laboratories. Meeting these quality standards requires the effort of every staff member, from the directors and pathologists to the technicians and administrative personnel.

Leptospira Infection in Animals

Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal and zoonotic bacterial disease caused by pathogenic bacterium Leptospira. There are over 200 serovars maintained in renal tubules of many domestic and wild animal species.

Blood and Cytology Submission Guidelines

General Guidelines and Principles

  • Label slides, tubes, and slide holders: Use patient name and site. Labeling is necessary to prevent and correct sample errors, and to preserve chain of custody. A key, explained in the submission form, can be used for multiple masses/specimens.

Issues Associated with Salmonella in Pet Foods

Earlier this year, an outbreak of salmonellosis was associated with tainted peanut butter products from the Peanut Corporation of America, and products are still being recalled as this article is being written. Although most of the products involved were for human consumption, some dog biscuits, rawhides, and other pet treats were among the recalled items. In addition, many pet owners admitted to having fed peanut butter crackers and other recalled human foods to their pets. Given recent deaths in animals due to melamine/cyanuric acid and aflatoxin contaminated dog and cat foods, it is understandable that owners are concerned about food recalls. However, Salmonella-contaminated pet treats and foods actually pose a risk to owners as well as to their pets.

Diagnosis of Skin Disease – Skin Biopies

One of the most common reasons for bringing pets to a veterinarian is skin disease. In many cases, the diagnosis is obvious and treatment is straightforward and successful. However, diagnostic tests are necessary to determine the cause when lesions are unusual; suggestive of serious diseases that require expensive, dangerous, or long term treatment; or do not respond to treatment as expected. Skin biopsies are frequently the most direct means of making a diagnosis because they are relatively easy to do, rapid, cost-effective, and safe for the patient.

Selection, Collection & Submission of Samples for Histopathology

Histopathology is a powerful and inexpensive diagnostic method. Submission of the right specimen in the right fixative is crucial for microscopic evaluation of biopsy specimens and organ or tissue samples from necropsies. Properly selected, appropriately collected and preserved specimens are very helpful in establishing an accurate diagnosis.

On the Wilder Side…Ranavirus in Amphibians

Ranaviruses have been implicated as one of the causes of worldwide amphibian declines. These viruses can be deadly to amphibians and have caused mass mortality events in North America. Clinical signs of ranavirus infection may be vague but include hemorrhaging of the skin, lethargy, and swelling (edema). Multiple internal organs may be affected; however, the kidney and liver often are targeted, resulting in hemorrhage and necrosis. In some species, mortality can occur as early as within a few days of exposure.

Immunohistochemistry Basics & Diagnosis of Neoplasia

Immunohistochemistry has been available for many years, but is becoming much more widely used with advances in automated staining processes, available antibodies, and knowledge. The principle behind the technique is relatively simple: all cells have antigens, and the distribution of antigens is tissue-dependent.

MRSA in Pets: A Public Health Concern?

Staphylococci are Gram-positive, facultative anaerobic cocci. The genus is subdivided into many different species and most of them are host adapted. For the most part, staphylococci are skin commensals of healthy individuals where they can be carried transiently or permanently and only cause disease when there is a breech of epithelial integrity. The most common clinical presentations are skin abscesses. The species of staphylococci most frequently isolated from both healthy and sick dogs and cats is Staphylococcus intermedius (SI). Staphylococcus aureus (SA), although isolated from animal infections, is not as common as SI. The susceptibility profiles of both staphylococci species is changing, with clear increases in the number of isolates that are multidrug resistant (MDR).

Laboratory Diagnosis of Johne’s Disease

Johne’s disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is an economically important disease of ruminants. The disease is characterized by chronic, progressive granulomatous enteritis and affects a wide variety of hosts including cattle, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, bison and deer. The U.S. dairy cattle industry estimates an annual economic loss of $220 million due to JD. The presence of MAP in milk, its resistance to pasteurization temperatures, and its possible association with Crohn’s disease in humans suggest a significant public health risk.

Addition of Fluoroscopy C-arm Imaging System Expands Procedures in Multiple Services

The new flouroscopy imaging system will benefit radiology, soft tissue surgery and cardiology services.

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