Tick Borne Disease Testing
Tick Borne Disease Serology Screen
KSVDL is now offering a serology panel that screens for Canine ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Annually, thousands of dogs and humans are infected with tick-borne diseases and that rate is climbing. The increasing incidence of tick-transmitted diseases of dogs and people has been associated with the ever increasing range of the various tick species, encroachment of wildlife species into the traditional “urban” environments, and an increase is pet travel.
The wide variation in the disease onset, the variable clinical signs exhibited, and the response to therapy can make a definitive diagnosis of the specific tick-borne disease difficult.
- Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick, causing stiffness, lameness, swollen joints, loss of appetite, fatigue, and possibly fever.
- Canine ehrlichiosis is transmitted by the brown dog tick. The various symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, depression, weight loss, runny eyes and nose, swollen limbs, and possibly bleeding.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever is carried by the American dog tick, the wood tick, and the lone star tick. The symptoms include fever, stiffness, neurological problems, and possibly skin lesions.
A screening tick-borne disease screening panel can be very helpful it identifying the causative tick-transmitted agent.
Sample: Serum in a preservative-free sterile tube
Test Schedule: Thursday and Friday (test is set up at 7:30 a.m.)
Estimated Turnaround: 2-3 days
For more information please go to
www.ksvdl.org
and click on the “Tests & Fees” icon or contact KSVDL Client Care at 866-512-5650 or
clientcare@vet.k-state.edu
.
Bovine Nitrate Sampling
Recently, KSVDL has received a large number of bovine samples that were unsuitable for nitrate testing.
In the past, the submission of the entire globe had been recommended. However, the longer the fluid stays within the eye the more likely hemolysis will occur. This is enhanced by the rigors the sample undergoes while being shipped to the laboratory.
KSDVL recommends that samples for nitrate testing be collected in the field, and that the entire globe not be submitted.
Aqueous humor (ocular fluid) is an excellent sample to collect in suspected cases of nitrate toxicosis. Nitrate levels in ocular fluid are relatively stable postmortem.
Samples of ocular fluid are easily collected at necropsy with a sterile needle and syringe. Begin by ensuring the surface of the eye is free from mud and other debris. A 16-18 gauge 1” needle and 3-12 cc syringe is used, depending of the size of the animal. Enter the anterior chamber through the cornea. Gently aspirate 1-2cc of ocular fluid.
After collection, the fluid should be placed in a sterile non-additive tube. The sample should be shipped on an ice pack. Following these procedures should ensure a suitable sample is obtained for nitrate testing.
Bovine Post-mortem Magnesium Testing
Vitreous humor is an excellent sample to submit for post mortem suspect hypomagnesemia cases. The sample is collected as described above, only a deeper needle penetration is required for vitreous sampling. It is important to collect vitreous and not aqueous humor as the magnesium in the vitreous humor is more stable than that present in the aqueous humor.
Samples remain stable up to 48 hours after death.
Vitreous humor magnesium level should not be used as the only diagnostic test for hypomagnesemia. Clinical signs, diet, gestation period, etc. in addition to the magnesium level should be taken into consideration.
For more information concerning Nitrate or Magnesium testing please contact KSVDL Client Care at 866-512-5650 or clientcare@vet.k-state.edu