CTDS News

We are pleased to welcome a new face to CTDS. Sarah Wynne joins us as an additional trainee medical laboratory technician at the start of July. Sarah is set to complete her HNC in animal technology this year and has spent some time as a veterinary nurse in both small and large animal practice.

Enhancing laboratory reports

We have recently improved our email report system so you now have the choice of reports as email attachments, in the body of the email or both. Email reports can also now be sent to multiple recipients. Sometimes we are asked if we can customise reports e.g. to report the vets fee on one copy and not (or as a “client fee” on another). The answer is usually yes. If you would like a customised report then please call and let us know what you would like to see

Case Study

Both cytology and microbiology are powerful tools in the identification of infectious agents. However, in some situations using the two in combination can considerably enhance their diagnostic yield. Recently we were sent swabs from Blue, a 9 year old Irish setter with a chronic history of otitis externa which had recently extended to an otitis media. The initial microbiology results revealed a moderate bilateral pure growth of Aspergillus fumigatus, a highly unusual isolate from a dog’s ears. The conventional view of such growths is that they reflect growth of contaminant organisms present in the dog’s environment and are not clinically relevant. However in this case the profuse pure growth and presence of white plaque-like lesions within the more severely affected ear made a genuine Aspergillus infection a possibility. To help determine the relevance of the microbiological findings, cytology of ear swabs were also made and they revealed the presence of many branching fungal hyphae consistent with Aspergillus (figure 1 left). The presence of growing hyphae confirmed active replication of Aspergillus within the ear. There are occasional cases of Aspergillus associated otitis media in dogs reported in the literature. Blue has been treated with ketoconazole systemically and clotrimazole topically and has improved significantly.

There are many other situations where combined cytology and microbiology are helpful. In urinary tract disease cytology may help to identify infection even where culture results are negative either as a result of prior antibiotic therapy or the presence of natural urinary bacterial inhibitors (see figure 2 and 3 right and left below). In feline conjunctivitis cytology can help to identify both Mycoplasma and Chlamydial infections and give an indication of allergic disease in addition to assessing the significance of any culture growth.

Cytology can also assist identifying oropharangeal contamination of tracheal and bronchial washings. Unless this contamination is identified the resulting bacterial growth may be considered to be significant rather than simply reflecting the presence of the normal flora from the mouth.

In skin disease culture and cytology of unruptured pustules before starting treatment can be both cost- effective in selecting antibiotics and rapidly identify cases where sterile immune mediated disease should be considered.
In any situation where you wish to combine cytology with microbiology simply select the test code for the cytology you require from the pricelist and add C9 for microbiology. Culture results will be provided at a reduced fee of £9 per swab, including anaerobic culture where indicated.

As ever, if you are not sure which samples to submit or which test to ask for do not hesitate to contact us. Sampling information is also available on the wesbite at www.ctdslab.co.uk. Click on “Laboratory Tests” and select “Cytology” or go to “Downloads” and select the “Guide to Taking Quality Samples” for more information on microbiology.

FIP Profile

For the investigation of FIP we would recommend the CTDS FIP profile.
• Profile to detect changes commonly seen in FIP
• Can also be used to investigate to investigate other causes of effusion or organomegally (e.g. neoplasia).
The FIP profile includes:
• Full haematology, comprehensive biochemistry.
• FCoV serology and cytology examination.
• Fluid cytology included where effusion is present.
• Organ aspirate cytology included where organomegally is present.
Samples: 1ml EDTA, air-dried smear, 1ml serum or serum gel, 0.5ml oxalate, fluid samples or FNA.
Reported: Same day as receipt- FIP titre next day.
Cost: £35 + VAT
Request code: FIPP

For PDF version of this newsletter

For Word version of this newsletter