Journal Of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Comparison of the detection of the chronic wasting disease prion by real-time quaking-induced conversion (rtQuIC) and silica nanoparticle-rtQuIC (nano-rtQuIC) assays in retropharyngeal lymph nodes of white-tailed deer, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk.
Ralston BA, Jennings J, Allen SE
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562211 · Full text
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to be detected across the United States and globally; enhanced detection is critical for disease management. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have shown promise in reducing time-to-det...
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to be detected across the United States and globally; enhanced detection is critical for disease management. Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have shown promise in reducing time-to-detection for the real-time quaking-induced conversion (rtQuIC) assay in white-tailed deer (WTD) retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLNs). We aimed to document such decreased time-to-detection in 3 Wyoming, USA, cervid species. Additionally, we investigated maximum slope (max slope) as a metric of differentiating CWD status by rtQuIC testing, and how the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) may be useful for setting thresholds for QuIC outcomes. We performed rtQuIC testing, with and without SiNPs, on postmortem RPLNs from 39 WTD (), 40 mule deer (), and 40 Rocky Mountain elk (). To measure effects of using SiNPs in the rtQuIC assay (nano-rtQuIC), median time-to-thresholds (tTh) for each sample replicate from QuIC and nano-rtQuIC was obtained using ROC thresholds. We found that nano-rtQuIC decreased the median tTh by 4.9, 5.3, and 3.6 h in WTD, mule deer, and elk, respectively. When using nano-rtQuIC, test sensitivity decreased by 5% in elk and by 4.8% in mule deer RPLN samples, whereas test sensitivity increased in WTD from 83.3% to 95.2%, indicating inhibition under the 50°C rtQuIC condition for WTD. Mechanisms of inhibition of rtQuIC by WTD RPLNs, comparatively by species, are unknown, but SiNPs and max slope analysis helped optimize rtQuIC test results. Interlaboratory validation and testing in a broader range of biological cervid samples would be useful for confirming these initial findings.
Fowl adenovirus infection and inclusion body hepatitis in Canada: genotyping trends from 2008 to 2024.
Ojkić D, Lopes J, Sandrock C … +5 more , Rätsep E, Brouwer E, Brooks A, Rossi T, Martin E
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562204 · Full text
Between 2008 and 2024, fowl adenovirus (FAdV) genotypes were determined by hexon gene sequencing for 1,362 samples: 1,234 from 9 Canadian provinces and 128 samples from the United States. Most genotyped samples were from...
Between 2008 and 2024, fowl adenovirus (FAdV) genotypes were determined by hexon gene sequencing for 1,362 samples: 1,234 from 9 Canadian provinces and 128 samples from the United States. Most genotyped samples were from Ontario (681), followed by Alberta (243), Nova Scotia (116), British Columbia (77), Quebec (58), Saskatchewan (21), Manitoba (20), Newfoundland (16), and Prince Edward Island (2). Most samples (1,285) were related to inclusion body hepatitis (IBH); 77 samples were submitted for other reasons. Four FAdV genotypes (FAdV2, FAdV8a, FAdV8b, FAdV11) were associated with IBH-related submissions. Between 2008 and 2014, the most common strains associated with IBH outbreaks were FAdV11 and FAdV8a. However, since 2015, the identity of FAdVs involved in IBH outbreaks has shifted, with FAdV8b becoming the most frequent IBH-associated strain, largely displacing FAdV8a and FAdV11. In a much smaller group of 77 samples from non-IBH submissions, 10 FAdV genotypes were detected: FAdV1, FAdV2, FAdV3, FAdV4, FAdV6, FAdV7, FAdV8a, FAdV8b, FAdV9, and FAdV11. Although FAdV4 is a recognized causative agent of hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome worldwide, no association with clinical disease was reported in the birds included in our study. Our comprehensive 17-y analysis of FAdV circulation patterns will support the development of control measures and vaccination programs to reduce the impact of FAdV-related outbreaks.
Clonal IgG lambda plasmacytoma with Mott cell differentiation causing marked pleural effusion in a dog.
Swenson CL, Nunnelley J
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562189 · Full text
Canine extramedullary plasmacytomas are typically benign tumors of the skin, oral cavity, and alimentary tract that are cured by surgical excision. This tumor is rarely metastatic and aggressive. We report an unusual pla...
Canine extramedullary plasmacytomas are typically benign tumors of the skin, oral cavity, and alimentary tract that are cured by surgical excision. This tumor is rarely metastatic and aggressive. We report an unusual plasmacytoma in a dog that had been presented because of dyspnea. Aside from evidence of pleural effusion, no cutaneous lesions or other abnormalities were detected on physical examination. Nearly 2 L of pleural fluid were removed by thoracocentesis, and a sample was submitted for cytologic examination. The pleural fluid had increased protein and cell concentrations, with a predominance of individualized, large, round, atypical cells. Those cells frequently had Russell body-like intracytoplasmic structures, as seen on microscopic examination of modified Wright-stained concentrated slide preparations. Together, these findings were strongly supportive of a neoplastic plasma cell exudate. Immunohistochemical (CD3, CD20, MUM1, IgG, λ light chain) staining and B-cell PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement analysis performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pleural cell-pellet sections confirmed a novel, clonal, IgG lambda extramedullary plasmacytoma with Mott cell differentiation that was most likely metastatic from a non-cutaneous primary site. Metastatic plasma cell neoplasia with voluminous serous cavity effusion carries a grave prognosis in humans, but has not been reported previously in dogs, to our knowledge.
Encephalic fibrosarcoma in a dog.
Crawford MJ, Demeter EA, Armién AG … +2 more , Radisic R, Rissi DR
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562145 · Full text
Intracranial sarcomas are rarely reported in dogs. A 9-y-old, castrated male mixed-breed dog was evaluated and euthanized because of a 1-wk history of lethargy, dullness, disorientation, right-sided head tilt, and circli...
Intracranial sarcomas are rarely reported in dogs. A 9-y-old, castrated male mixed-breed dog was evaluated and euthanized because of a 1-wk history of lethargy, dullness, disorientation, right-sided head tilt, and circling to the right. Grossly, a pale-tan, firm, 1.5-cm mass effaced ~60% of the right-ventral aspect of the pons. Histologically, the mass was composed of elongate neoplastic cells with abundant cytoplasm and round-to-oval nuclei arranged in bundles and supported by collagenous stroma. Anisocytosis and anisokaryosis were moderate, with 11 mitoses in 2.37 mm (10 FN22/40× fields). The neoplasm was well-demarcated with occasional areas of infiltration in the surrounding neuroparenchyma. Neoplastic cells had widespread cytoplasmic immunolabeling for vimentin, patchy cytoplasmic immunolabeling for myoglobin, weak cytoplasmic immunolabeling for desmin, and rare cytoplasmic immunolabeling for myogenin. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed bundles of oval-to-elongate neoplastic cells with small-to-medium cytoplasmic aggregates of rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns. The centrally-to-peripherally located nuclei were round and had one or more compact-to-reticulate nucleoli. Collagen bundles were in intimate contact with the plasma membrane of neoplastic cells and formed the abundant extracellular matrix. Histologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings were consistent with an encephalic fibrosarcoma. The myogenic differentiation suggested by immunohistochemistry could not be confirmed by TEM.
Clinical evaluation of a direct RT-qPCR method for feline coronavirus detection in effusions using the PicoGene PCR1100 system.
Doki T, Yonezawa Y, Katayama M … +2 more , To K, Takano T
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562144 · Full text
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infects both domestic and wild felids and has the potential to cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a progressive and often fatal systemic disease. Although rapid diagnosis and treatment a...
Feline coronavirus (FCoV) infects both domestic and wild felids and has the potential to cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), a progressive and often fatal systemic disease. Although rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial in cases of FIP, conventional reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) requires RNA extraction and specialized equipment, limiting its use for timely testing in general veterinary practice. We evaluated the performance of a direct RT-qPCR method using the PicoGene PCR1100 system (GoFoton, Ibaraki, Japan), which omits the RNA extraction step and delivers results within ~40 min. Compared with FCoV culture supernatants and extracted RNA, we estimated the limit of detection of this direct RT-qPCR method to be 150 copies/reaction-a detection sensitivity equivalent to that of conventional RT-qPCR targeting the FCoV 3'-UTR. We observed no cross-reactivity with other feline viruses or SARS-CoV-2. We subsequently analyzed 28 pleural and abdominal effusions collected from cats suspected of having FIP to compare the direct RT-qPCR method with the conventional approach. The sensitivity of the direct RT-qPCR method was 95.5% (95% CI: [78.2, 99.2]) and the specificity was 100% (95% CI: [61.0, 100.0]), which supports the use of the PCR1100 system as a rapid and user-friendly point-of-care tool for the detection of FCoV RNA in effusion samples.
sp. detected by next-generation sequencing in paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissues of a dog with severe panophthalmitis and periocular cellulitis.
Assenmacher CA, Mou K, Li G … +3 more , Hsu K, Sahin O, Cole SD
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562140 · Full text
A 9-mo-old, castrated male Saint Bernard dog was presented for evaluation of periorbital swelling, severe uveitis, and secondary glaucoma. Concurrently, chest radiographs had evidence of pneumonia. Enucleation was perfor...
A 9-mo-old, castrated male Saint Bernard dog was presented for evaluation of periorbital swelling, severe uveitis, and secondary glaucoma. Concurrently, chest radiographs had evidence of pneumonia. Enucleation was performed after failure of aggressive medical management. Histopathology of the globe confirmed severe necrosuppurative panophthalmitis and periocular cellulitis with myriad intra- and extracellular bacteria forming long filamentous chains. The bacteria were gram-positive and GMS-positive but acid-fast-negative. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from the eye. We identified a bacterium in the family with a 100% BLAST match, suggestive of the previously described strain (CCUG 41709). Clinical improvement followed enucleation and continued medical management, leading to reduction of the periocular swelling and resolution of the lung disease. Uveitis is common in dogs and is the most common cause of glaucoma. In many cases of bacterial uveitis, the exact bacterial organisms remain unknown if culture is not performed before fixation. sp. should be considered in patients with severe endophthalmitis or panophthalmitis, especially with evidence of systemic disease. NGS on FFPE samples may be a useful tool for identifying infectious organisms, especially in cases in which culture is not an option.
Missense mutation of may cause feline osteogenesis imperfecta without bone deformity.
Takanosu M, Aoki H, Toshima A … +1 more , Kagawa Y
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41562138 · Full text
A 3-mo-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with multiple fractures. Bone morphology was normal radiographically, with no long bone deformity or increased bone translucency. A bone biopsy from the ilium was examined...
A 3-mo-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with multiple fractures. Bone morphology was normal radiographically, with no long bone deformity or increased bone translucency. A bone biopsy from the ilium was examined histologically, revealing that bone matrix in the trabeculae extended from the growth plate, but cartilage remained in the distal trabeculae. Osteoblasts were observed at the bone surface via immunohistochemical detection with an anti-RUNX2 antibody. Whole-genome sequencing identified a homozygous missense mutation (valine to methionine) in the zinc-dependent metalloprotease domain of , a gene associated with human osteogenesis imperfecta type 13. In silico analysis predicted that this mutation would disrupt BMP1 protein function, which could affect type I collagen processing. Our findings suggest that a missense mutation in may cause feline osteogenesis imperfecta.
Autopsy cases of aortic dissection, myxomatous valve degeneration, and ventricular septal defect in pet minipigs.
Ueda K, Nakamura SI, Kutara K … +2 more , Ueda A, Ozaki K
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41560702 · Full text
The number of pet minipigs, also called micro- or mini-pigs, has increased. Although cardiovascular diseases, particularly congenital malformations, are well documented in industrial and laboratory minipigs, they have no...
The number of pet minipigs, also called micro- or mini-pigs, has increased. Although cardiovascular diseases, particularly congenital malformations, are well documented in industrial and laboratory minipigs, they have not been reported in pet minipigs, to our knowledge. Detailed cardiac examination in awake pigs is challenging and typically requires sedation or anesthesia, making awareness of potential cardiac conditions essential. We present clinical and pathology findings from 3 pet minipig autopsies: aortic dissection, myxomatous valve degeneration, and ventricular septal defect. These cases highlight the need for increased awareness and investigation of cardiovascular diseases in pet minipigs.
Intoxication of cattle by in northwestern Argentina.
Marin RE, Riet-Correa F, Uzal FA
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41560680 · Full text
Here we describe 2 outbreaks of intoxication by in cattle in Argentina. In outbreak 1, in 2010, 180 heifers were introduced to a paddock heavily invaded by Thirty-two animals developed watery diarrhea, and 6 of them we...
Here we describe 2 outbreaks of intoxication by in cattle in Argentina. In outbreak 1, in 2010, 180 heifers were introduced to a paddock heavily invaded by Thirty-two animals developed watery diarrhea, and 6 of them were drooling, and had constant chewing motions, blindness, incoordination, depression, and prostration. Four affected animals died 12-14 h after the onset of clinical signs; another died 4 d later. The surviving 27 animals were removed from the paddock and recovered. At autopsy, several organs were congested and hemorrhagic, and abundant pericarps, leaves, and seeds of were found in the rumen content. The main microscopic lesion was acute, diffuse, superficial necrotizing gastroenteritis, and intestinal congestion and hemorrhage. In outbreak 2, in 2013, severe neurologic signs were observed in 12 of 300 cows after being introduced into a corn paddock without grain production that had been severely invaded by . Affected animals were excited and had tremors, drooling, incoordination, and prostration. The herd was immediately transferred to another paddock, and all affected cows recovered without treatment. In outbreak 1, the clinical signs and lesions were characteristic of simultaneous poisoning by fruits, which contain ricin and cause mainly digestive signs and lesions, and by leaves and pericarps, which contain ricinine and cause nervous signs. In outbreak 2, clinical signs and the recovery of the animals suggest that the intoxication was caused by ricinine, which is present in the leaves of .
Outbreak of equine botulism type C associated with consumption of baleage in Brazil.
Souza LL, Lima AS, Martins AS … +6 more , Silva TA, Borsanelli AC, Dutra IS, Pupin RC, Gomes DC, Lemos RA
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41504204 · Full text
An outbreak of botulism occurred in March 2024 among horses at a Quarter Horse stud farm in Central-West Brazil. After ingesting baleage, 22 of 26 (85%) horses housed in stables and fed baleage became ill. The affected h...
An outbreak of botulism occurred in March 2024 among horses at a Quarter Horse stud farm in Central-West Brazil. After ingesting baleage, 22 of 26 (85%) horses housed in stables and fed baleage became ill. The affected horses had dysphagia, muscular weakness, fasciculations, and progressive recumbency; 13 of 22 (59%) died within a few days. The diagnosis of type C botulism was established based on clinical and epidemiologic findings and confirmed by mouse bioassays, which indicated botulinum toxin type C in liver samples and intestinal contents. Furthermore, PCR testing identified toxigenic in the baleage consumed by the horses.
CRISPR-Cas12a-based lateral flow detection of white spot syndrome virus: a dual-target approach for detection of early and latent infection.
Manojkumar C, Limbola M, Paul S … +6 more , Thangadurai K, Rajendran KV, Roy A, Mandal B, Jeena K, Bedekar MK
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41502163 · Full text
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV; family ; taxon species ) is a major viral pathogen that poses a significant threat to the global shrimp industry, with early detection being the most effective strategy for disease contro...
White spot syndrome virus (WSSV; family ; taxon species ) is a major viral pathogen that poses a significant threat to the global shrimp industry, with early detection being the most effective strategy for disease control. We developed a CRISPR-Cas12a-based dual-target detection assay for WSSV, specifically targeting the gene (gene product is a major envelope protein) and (a latency-associated gene), optimized using Indian WSSV isolates. Our CRISPR RNAs for both targets had high efficiency, and we evaluated the assay using fluorescence-based and lateral flow strip (LFS) endpoint detection. In fluorescence assays, the Cr-WSSV assay (without recombinase polymerase amplification, RPA) detected WSSV at 3 × 10⁵ copies/μL; RPA integration significantly enhanced sensitivity, allowing detection at as low as 20 and 200 copies for and , respectively, with 100% specificity. We developed a CRISPR-based LFS assay with optimized FAM-biotin reporter concentrations of 100 nM and 250 nM, yielding robust and reproducible results for improved field applicability. Performance evaluation confirmed lack of cross-reactivity to other WOAH-listed shrimp pathogens, while maintaining detection limits of 20 and 200 copies of and . Clinical validation further demonstrated that the RPA-Cr-WSSV-LFS assay successfully detected even in -negative samples, underscoring the importance of detecting in latent infections. Our rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive CRISPR-Cas-based assay enhances WSSV surveillance and biosecurity in shrimp aquaculture by incorporating structural and latency-associated gene markers, making it a promising alternative to conventional molecular testing.
Femoral arterial embolism of an airgun pellet in a dog.
Oren S, Viner T, Tabaran FA
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41502116 · Full text
A 4-y-old male Labrador Retriever was submitted for autopsy following radiographic examination by the owner, a veterinarian, which had revealed 3 embedded projectiles. Autopsy revealed a single entrance wound on the left...
A 4-y-old male Labrador Retriever was submitted for autopsy following radiographic examination by the owner, a veterinarian, which had revealed 3 embedded projectiles. Autopsy revealed a single entrance wound on the left flank. Using flap-by-flap dissection, the trajectory of the projectile was traced through the skin and lumbar musculature to its location where it had perforated the abdominal aorta, causing fatal acute hemoperitoneum. Remarkably, the copper-coated pellet (Diabolo) was found in the lumen of the right femoral artery, consistent with projectile embolism. No external trauma was present at that site. Embolization can occur when a projectile enters the vasculature and travels to a distal location, typically requiring low residual kinetic energy and a vessel of sufficient caliber. Although well documented in human forensic medicine, projectile embolism is exceedingly rare in veterinary cases. To our knowledge, embolization of a projectile in the femoral artery in a dog has not been reported previously. Our case highlights the importance of comprehensive radiographic imaging before autopsy and illustrates the diagnostic value of correlating radiologic findings with meticulous gross examination in veterinary forensic pathology cases.
Lacrimal gland adenocarcinoma with widespread metastasis in a domestic rabbit.
Okumura N, Brunner T, Nevarez JG … +3 more , Santana de Cecco B, Wooton KE, Wenzlow N
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41502103 · Full text
An 11-y-old spayed female American rabbit () was presented for autopsy with a left maxillary mass. Grossly, the mass was firm, pale-tan, and firmly adhered to the left maxillary bone. Similar masses were observed in the...
An 11-y-old spayed female American rabbit () was presented for autopsy with a left maxillary mass. Grossly, the mass was firm, pale-tan, and firmly adhered to the left maxillary bone. Similar masses were observed in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Histologically, the mass was poorly demarcated, unencapsulated, highly infiltrative, and densely cellular, consisting of neoplastic cuboidal-to-polygonal cells arranged in acini and occasional tubules anchored in a delicate fibrous stroma. Neoplastic cells were positive for anti-keratin/cytokeratin AE1/AE3 antibody. Similar neoplastic cells were present in the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings were consistent with an adenocarcinoma. Based on the anatomy and histology of the rabbit lacrimal gland and adjacent lacrimal gland structures, we concluded that this was an adenocarcinoma arising from the accessory lacrimal gland. To our knowledge, adenocarcinoma originating from the accessory lacrimal gland has not been documented previously in a rabbit.
Simulation of pooling optimization methods for differing infection dynamics, sampling practices, and desired outcomes in surveillance testing.
Burgess C, Loy DS, Loy JD … +2 more , Curran A, Lahmers K
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41502093 · Full text
The reliability of assumptions made about prevalence for pooling optimization varies greatly among target pathogens and surveillance strategies. When prevalence is unknown and difficult to anticipate, surveillance progra...
The reliability of assumptions made about prevalence for pooling optimization varies greatly among target pathogens and surveillance strategies. When prevalence is unknown and difficult to anticipate, surveillance programs risk generating additional costs if pooling is suboptimal. Different methods of approximating optimal pool size (OPS) vary in precision of optimization, required sampling information, and the logistical demands placed on a laboratory workflow. Hence, it can be unclear how to assess compatibility between pooling optimization methods and the priorities of a surveillance program, sampling practices for the target population, and infection dynamics of the target pathogen. Our aim was to determine the relative performance in maximizing testing economy and cost reduction in different surveillance programs by simulating different pooling optimization methods on data from 280 submissions for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) surveillance (Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center) and 111 submissions for surveillance (Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services). True prevalence, OPS, and historical prevalence were determined for each submission, and different optimization methods using fixed pool sizes, historical prevalence, and prevalence estimation testing were trialed on the data through Monte Carlo simulations. Contrasting results were observed between the 2 target pathogens, with historical prevalence being the most reliable optimization method for BVDV and the least reliable method for , which required significantly more tests than truly optimized pooling ( <0.05). Our results demonstrate the need to consider the interplay of infection dynamics, sampling practices, and surveillance priorities when selecting a pooling optimization approach.
An outbreak of ovine conidiobolomycosis in the Brazilian Amazon.
Silva TIB, Rocha JHL, Silva DKA … +7 more , Portela AGA, Gomes CB, Henrique LGA, Campelo MBZ, Oliveira INLC, Melchior LAK, Santos FGA
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41501631 · Full text
sp. causes conidiobolomycosis, an emerging invasive fungal disease that affects humans and animals, mainly in tropical regions. In sheep, the disease has a major economic impact. We report an outbreak of conidiobolomycos...
sp. causes conidiobolomycosis, an emerging invasive fungal disease that affects humans and animals, mainly in tropical regions. In sheep, the disease has a major economic impact. We report an outbreak of conidiobolomycosis on a sheep farm in the Brazilian Amazon, as well as give a brief review of the subject. Veterinary care was requested on a rural property on which 3 of 35 sheep had developed prostration, facial edema, and exophthalmos. Two of the sick animals died, and a third was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Acre (Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil). After imaging tests, the animal was euthanized given the advanced clinical stage of the disease. The main autopsy findings were rhinosinusitis with caseous necrosis, destruction of the nasal turbinates, and pulmonary granulomas. Based on our histologic, immunologic, microbiologic, and molecular tests, the outbreak was confirmed to be caused by , a saprozoonotic agent that has not been reported previously in northern Brazil, to our knowledge.
Systemic infection in a female domestic ferret.
Padilha Basqueroto Antunes T, Buczek J, Brower A … +1 more , Mani R
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41482860 · Full text
is a slow-growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium with occasional branching morphology that has been reported mainly in immunocompromised human patients and rarely in other animal species. A 5-y-old female ferret was pres...
is a slow-growing, non-tuberculous mycobacterium with occasional branching morphology that has been reported mainly in immunocompromised human patients and rarely in other animal species. A 5-y-old female ferret was presented to a veterinary clinic with a history of anorexia and lethargy; peripheral lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and pneumonia were detected. Despite treatment, progressive deterioration of the ferret's health led to euthanasia of the animal. Autopsy revealed numerous small 1-4-mm white nodules in the lung, spleen, and kidneys. Histologically, the kidney and lung nodules were pyogranulomas containing slender, elongate acid-fast bacilli with occasional branching. Bacterial culture was negative after 5 d of aerobic incubation. A PCR assay of kidney tissue was positive for spp., with 100% DNA sequence similarity to can cause systemic infection in humans and animals resembling tuberculoid mycobacterial infection. The diagnosis can be challenging due to cross-reactivity with tuberculosis-specific molecular assays and slow growth on bacterial culture. Although has been reported elsewhere in ferrets more commonly than in other animals, has not been reported previously in any animal species in North America, to our knowledge. should be included as a potential pathogen in systemic mycobacterial infections, especially in ferrets.
Histologic patterns of chronic interstitial lung disease in dogs.
Kozawa M, Buma A, Yan J … +3 more , Caswell MJW, Foster RA, Caswell JL
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2025 Dec · PMID 41408690 · Full text
Chronic interstitial lung disease (cILD) is uncommon in dogs and little is known of the pathogenesis, apart from the condition in West Highland White Terriers. This study aimed to characterize histologic lesions of canin...
Chronic interstitial lung disease (cILD) is uncommon in dogs and little is known of the pathogenesis, apart from the condition in West Highland White Terriers. This study aimed to characterize histologic lesions of canine cILD, compare the lesions and clinical features, and classify the histopathologic patterns according to criteria used in humans. The study included 24 postmortem cases of subacute or chronic ILD in >6-month-old dogs with respiratory signs. Histologic lung lesions included attenuated bronchiolar epithelium, alveolar edema, type II pneumocyte proliferation, fibrosis of alveolar septa, fibrin or fibrous tissue within alveoli or bronchioles, and hyaline membranes. Of the 24 cases, 8 were classified as organizing diffuse alveolar damage, 4 as organizing pneumonia, and 3 as acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia; 9 were unclassifiable and considered as nonspecific interstitial lung disease. None fulfilled criteria for usual interstitial pneumonia. Potential causes included aspiration of gastric or foreign material, prior acute respiratory distress syndrome, or failed healing of pneumonia. Left-sided heart failure was identified in 12 of 24 cases but was not considered to directly cause the interstitial lung lesions. Gross lesions of cor pulmonale were associated with organizing pneumonia and longer clinical duration. The cases had diverse histologic lesions and patterns of lung fibrosis, but the results suggested that these may represent divergent responses to overlapping causes of lung injury rather than distinct diseases. These findings clarify the pathogenesis of cILD in dogs, the mechanisms of initial damage, and the future development of approaches to delay or predict disease progression.
High analytical variability exists with multiple methods of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D analysis in dogs.
Reynolds LJ, Rudinsky AJ, Winston JA … +1 more , Parker VJ
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41408542 · Full text
Vitamin D deficiency, defined as low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D), is a highly prevalent finding in dogs with several disease states. Significant analytical variability between 25D methods of analysis in humans is wel...
Vitamin D deficiency, defined as low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D), is a highly prevalent finding in dogs with several disease states. Significant analytical variability between 25D methods of analysis in humans is well-documented; it is unknown if this variability exists in dogs. Our primary goal was to evaluate agreement of 2 chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA1, CLIA2); 2 liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS1, LC-MS/MS2) assays, from 3 laboratories; and a point-of-care lateral flow assay (LFA) across a wide range of expected 25D results in dogs. The null hypothesis was that all methods of analysis would have clinically acceptable agreement (<25 nmol/L difference). The tests were assessed for agreement via Bland-Altman analysis, Passing-Bablok regression, and Lin correlation coefficients. In Bland-Altman analysis, all inter-test comparisons exceeded the a priori clinically acceptable ≤25 nmol/L mean difference, except for LC-MS/MS1 vs. CLIA1 (mean difference -7.2 nmol/L). The range of mean bias across all test comparisons was -186% (LC-MS/MS2 vs. CLIA2) to 254% (CLIA2 vs. LFA). Tests of comparable methodology did not produce more similar results. The mean bias between the 2 CLIA assays was 54%, and the mean bias between the 2 LC-MS/MS tests was 125%. The significant analytical variability of canine 25D tests suggest that they cannot be used interchangeably, and caution should be used when comparing 25D results presented in canine studies from different laboratories and methods of analysis.
Intestinal mucormycosis in a captive tiger.
Cappelleri A, Grieco V, Vallone L … +3 more , Danesi P, Villa W, Giudice C
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2026 Mar · PMID 41408541 · Full text
Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive fungal infection caused by ubiquitous saprophytic fungi of the order . In humans, the infection is generally caused by inhalation of spores or traumatic inoculation in cutaneous wounds, t...
Mucormycosis is an angioinvasive fungal infection caused by ubiquitous saprophytic fungi of the order . In humans, the infection is generally caused by inhalation of spores or traumatic inoculation in cutaneous wounds, typically affecting immunocompromised patients. In animals, infection is common in cattle, but is rare in the other species, including felids. No cases of mucormycosis have been reported to date in non-domestic felids, to our knowledge. We describe a case of mucormycosis in a 5-y-old female captive tiger (). The affected tiger was part of a group of 9 subjects, 7 of which had serohemorrhagic nasal discharge, anorexia, and depression, followed by hemorrhagic diarrhea. Five of the tigers died and organs from one animal were sent for histologic examination, which revealed severe necrohemorrhagic enteritis, with periodic acid-Schiff- and Grocott methenamine silver-positive fungal hyphae. colonies were cultured from sawdust, which served as litter for the animals, indicating a possible source of infection through inhalation of spores and/or ingestion of contaminated sawdust. Mucormycosis is a possible differential for necrohemorrhagic enteritis in captive felids; careful storage and periodic assessment of the materials used as litter for these animals is recommended.
Spontaneous pneumothorax in a dog with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and ruptured bullae.
Hille MM, Timmons MS, Loy DS
J Vet Diagn Invest · 2025 Dec · PMID 41408496 · Full text
Canine interstitial pulmonary fibrosis has been described in dogs, almost exclusively in terrier breeds. Here, we present a unique case of spontaneous pneumothorax in a Labrador Retriever that was presented to an emergen...
Canine interstitial pulmonary fibrosis has been described in dogs, almost exclusively in terrier breeds. Here, we present a unique case of spontaneous pneumothorax in a Labrador Retriever that was presented to an emergency clinic in severe respiratory distress. Despite resuscitation efforts, the animal died and was submitted for autopsy, which revealed severely collapsed lungs bilaterally and bullae along the pleural surface, with at least one ruptured bulla observed grossly. Histopathology of the lung revealed coalescing areas of interstitial fibrosis throughout most of the lung tissue examined. A pan-herpesvirus PCR assay was negative on fresh lung tissue. Based on our findings, we propose that the fibrosis and bullae developed sequentially, and the fibrotic interstitium likely decreased the elasticity in the respective alveoli, leading to increased alveolar wall tension in normal alveoli, which caused the formation of bullae. Our case adds to the body of literature regarding canine interstitial lung disease by describing a unique presentation of canine idiopathic interstitial fibrosis in a non-terrier breed.
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