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"Thank you all very much for the
excellent service you provided for us, for the speed and standard of diagnosis....We
have operated on Theo and he is making an excellent recovery. I am convinced
that without your prompt help the dog would not have survived." Dougie
Boyle MRCVS,
This is an extract from a letter from another satisfied NWL client. Rutland House Veterinary Hospital recently moved to NWL following the recommendation of a colleague who had had experience of the NWL service whilst working at another practice. See Case Notes In the past 12 months NWLs’ client base has increased by nearly 50% many of these new clients have been recommendations. Good news travels. The reputation of NWL is built on excellence of service. Click to request further information about NWLBack Case Notes Microcytic anaemia Theo, a 9 year old male Labrador was presented with a history of lethargy. Examination quickly revealed that Theo was severely anaemic. Blood sample were taken and in house tests confirmed the anaemia There were no significant biochemical abnormalities. The samples were submitted to NWL by courier for a more detailed examination. The haematology results confirmed the in-house findings and revealed a vital piece of information, the MCV was only 56.9 fl. the reference range being 65-75 This indicated that the anaemia was microcytic. The Results:-
The cause of a microcytic anaemia is usually a chronic total loss bleeding problem leading to an iron deficiency. The commonest causes of this being , a gastro-intestinal bleed or a haematuria. On receiving the report Theo was operated on and a 30cm section of intestine was removed. subsequent histological examination, returned with in 24 hours revealed a leiomyosarcoma. Theo is recovering well. The prognosis for a leiomyosarcoma is difficult to predict. Although most cases do not metastasize a small number do initially to the mesenteric lymph nodes. A few cases show more widespread lymphatic and haematogenous metastasis. Foot Note:- Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) is one of the most important indices in diagnostic haematology. Yet this is an index value which is not provided by some in-house haematology analysers. As indicated in the case notes the commonest cause of microcytosis is a chronic total blood loss. The next most common association is with a hepatoportal shunt. In this situation there is not usually an anaemia. Less common causes are folic
acid and B vitamin deficiencies. The occurrence of microcytic RBC’s in
the Japanese Akita is normal.
Thyroiditis is an inherited auto-immune disease. Auto-immune thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs, giving rise to over 50% of the cases diagnosed. There are indications of
a breed pre-disposition and a familial pattern of inheritance. Breeds involved
include Cocker Spaniel, Golden Retriever, Irish Setter, Beagle, Shetland
Sheepdog and Doberman.
It is important to routinely test all dogs from the risk breeds for Thyroglobulin Auto-Antibodies (TgAA) even if they are not intended for breeding. Testing can serve two functions, the screening of animals prior to breeding and for the prediction of possible hypothyroidism. The screening of animals prior to breeding can help to reduce the incidence of the disease. Prospective owners may insist on knowing the TgAA history of an animal prior to purchase to avoid the possibility of investing in an animal with potential chronic health problems. The onset of hypothyroidism
associated with auto-immune thyroiditis is insidious. The symptoms can
be indistinct and may be overlooked or even ignored by an owner until the
underlying condition is well advanced.
Test : Thyroglobulin
Auto-Antibodies, Code : TGAA, Sample : Serum, Charge : £20.00
The new test for pregnancy in dogs detects Relaxin, a hormone which is only present in pregnant bitches. The hormone level starts to rise between 21 and 25 days after mating. For the earliest detection of pregnancy, bitches can be tested during this period and if negative will require re-testing 7 days later. For reliable results we would advise waiting until 35 days after mating. The test can be carried
out on serum or heparin plasma, cost £20.00
A group of veterinary nurses from practices throughout the Lancashire area enjoyed a day of intensive training in laboratory techniques under the watchful eye of Alan Bullock the laboratory training officer, supported by other members of the technical team. In addition to being a very experienced Biomedical Scientist, Alan is a qualified teacher, he revels in running these popular training events. There is nothing like a bit of practice under expert tuition for perfecting the flick of the wrist that goes towards producing the perfect blood smear. The students gained practical experience in techniques associated with haematology, biochemistry, parasitology, microbiology, urinalysis and microscopy. The consensus was that one demonstration is worth a thousand words. Tuition takes place in both a spacious lecture room facility and in a practical working laboratory environment. Tuition is arranged on an
informal basis for individuals and groups of up to 6 students. If you would
like to take advantage of this unique training opportunity contact Alan
Bullock on 01253 899215 fur further information.
From the 1st July a new request form will be issued. The form has been redesigned to provide a more logical layout than the previous form. One major change is the removal
of the order form for blood tubes, swabs etc. This will be replaced by
a separate order form which will allow the ordering of a months supplies
in one go.
From 1st July all sampling requirements will be ordered using a monthly order form. You will receive these new forms during the next few weeks. If you should have any problems please telephone Lorraine in Customer Services on 01253 899215. It has been necessary to
introduce a new system because the old one was unable to cope with the
huge demand for sampling materials.
FIV virus used in gene therapy Scientists working in molecular biology use modified HIV virus as a vector to deliver genes into human cells. HIV vectors differ from wild HIV virus as they have key components removed. "They won't go bad and become HIV" says Michael Curran of Stanford University but they may be transmitted to other people, which might not be a good thing. The answer to the problem appears to be to use the closely related FIV virus which does not produce disease in humans. Initial work suggests that the FIV vector has the ability to transport genes into a much wider variety of human cell types than the modified HIV virus. This makes the FIV vector more than just a vehicle for gene therapy. It will enable biologists to study a wide variety of cell types. Source: www.biomednet.com/biomednews
A stitch in time When it to comes to reptiles, birds, snakes etc there really is no such thing as a reference range. Even when it is possible to sample enough animals from a particular population there is often a considerable overlap between normal and abnormal animals. The age, sex, nutrition, season, housing or environment can all have a marked influence on an animals’ physiology and hence normal haematology and blood chemistry values. One answer to the problem is to establish normals for individual animals’. Owners should be encouraged to have their pets sampled and tested for a basic haematology and biochemistry baseline while they are healthy. A personalised reference range is good insurance as a haematology and biochemistry check is often the quickest way to establish a diagnosis in sickly exotics. This approach to preventive
medicine may appear extravagant but compared with the considerable financial
investment that most exotic collections represent, the relatively small
cost involved could be the difference between success and failure in the
swift diagnosis and treatment of a much loved and valuable pet.
Urine Samples When submitting urine samples for culture through the post use a Boric acid tube filled to the correct level. Please ensure that the animal has been off antibiotics for 10 days. Aerobic and Anaerobic
cultures
Labelling Samples
Food processing establishments and kitchens are equipped with UV fly traps that incinerate any flying bugs that fall for their fatal attraction. The purpose of the traps is to improve hygiene by diverting the flies away from the food so stopping them passing on potentially dangerous germs to the food. Researchers in Kansas have discovered that when a fly is fried by the electric fly killer the bacteria and viruses carried on its body are scattered as far as 2 meters away from the fly catcher. It looks like the fly killer is doing a better job than the fly at distributing the bugs over the food in the kitchen. Any one for garnish. |
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Test Protocols || Disease Investigation Protocols || Sampling Guides || Newsletters || Interesting Links Print a Submission Form || Request a Price List || Veterinary Nurse Training North Western Laboratories Limited Lancefield House, 23 Mains Lane, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, FY6 7LJ, England Telephone +44 (0) 253 899215 Fax +44 (0) 253 891934 |