IDEXX topic of the month

Urinalysis can be a time-consuming job in-house, requiring a functional microscope, a centrifuge, and staff with both the time and expertise to perform a sediment exam. Ideally urine samples should be analysed with 1-2 hours of voiding to increase confidence in results. Delay in analysis can lead to changes in temperature or pH which can lead to precipitation of crystals, which can subsequently lead to potential misdiagnosis and inappropriate decisions regarding case management. This webinar will help you become more confident in your interpretation of urine sediment examination (including identification of crystals, epithelial cells and casts). This webinar is provided by BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

In this webinar Alex Draper discusses some of the ancillary tests that are available as additional tools to cytology/histopathology in the diagnostic workup of canine lymphoma/leukaemia. Reviewing the principles of clonality testing (PARR), immunocytochemistry (ICC), and flow cytometry, and which type of information each of these tests provide. She also covers which ancillary test may be most appropriate to confirm a suspicion of lymphoproliferative disease, or to further characterise a lymphoma based on initial cytological findings, and review sample requirements. This webinar is provided by BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

In this webinar, Brigitte Wilkens takes us through the case of Alima a female, five-year-old, Rhodesian Ridgeback suffering from polyuria/polydipsia (PUPD). Over the course of this lecture, Dr Wilkens touches on how to confirm PUPD using a urine specific gravity test, the pathophysiology of PUPD, the role of ADH, performing a modified water deprivation test and potential courses of treatment. This case-based webinar is provided by BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

Vets in the UK are seeing an increasing number of animals imported from mainland Europe, and consequently are being faced with having to consider many more exotic diseases in this population of patients . Screening is important to avoid these diseases becoming established in the UK and to protect owners, other animals and of course vets, from risk of transmission. In this webyte we will discuss the various testing options for several of these diseases including Heartworm, Leishmania, Brucella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Hepatozoon.

The use of blood smears or cytology combined with in clinic antigen or antibody tests will be discussed alongside laboratory testing. The aim is to provide the practitioner the tools they require to confidently choose the right testing option for travelled patients. This webinar is provided by BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

Urolithiasis is an all too common concern in companion animal practice, with identification of urolith type proving key to management recommendations that reduce recurrence in dogs and cats. IDEXX Internal Medicine Consultant, Michelle Evason, says that patients with urolithiasis frequently present with signs of lower urinary tract inflammation (e.g. haematuria, dysuria), due to urolith mucosal irritation and often concurrent infection, with the most common urolith types being struvite and calcium oxalate. Initiation of timely therapy plans based on diagnostics, urolith analysis, culture and susceptibility, and the latest research, aids immediate management and targets ongoing prevention. IDEXX offers cutting edge urolithiasis analysis, with expanded services in 2022 to include urolith culture and susceptibility testing. This case-based webinar is provided by BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

IDEXX Internal Medicine Consulting team has seen an increased call volume relating to cats in the UK with pancytopenia; this surge is currently being investigated by specialist vets at the Royal Veterinary College in London. IDEXX Internal Medicine Consultant Dr Yvonne McGrotty states “Affected cats may present with signs of inappetence, lethargy, pallor, pyrexia and spontaneous mucosal bleeding. The mortality rate associated with this condition is high and an effective treatment is currently unknown. Clinicopathological findings usually include severe leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia.” The cause of this spike in cases has not been fully elucidated to date, but a potential link to mycotoxins (naturally occurring toxins produced by some types of fungi) in certain foodstuffs is being investigated further, along with other possible toxins. Pancytopenia cases have so far been linked to a single food manufacturer and three brands of food have been recalled as a result. Full details of the recall are available on the Food Standards Agency website, however the FSA have recently stated that they have been unable to establish a causative link between the recalled foods and the pancytopenia outbreak. Sick cats, or cats that are known to have eaten any of the recalled foods, can be screened by performing a complete blood count, including film examination. Vets who believe that they have identified a potential case are being urged to complete a survey on the RVC website to help vets there to identify common factors, which might ultimately assist them in determining the underlying cause. BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX has provided this webinar by Yvonne McGrotty to explain more about anaemia in cats. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

This webinar is a brief overview of the types of dermatology cases that are appropriate for biopsy submission, and the methods for taking skin biopsies for histopathology, with specific reference to alopecia cases. A brief description on how to differentiate inflammatory and non-inflammatory causes of alopecia is given and where biopsy might fit into the work up for these different causes of alopecia. There is guidance on biopsy submission to the laboratory and a summary of information needed by pathologists to make the most of skin samples. This is followed up with a case example where biopsy was the final step of the work-up for a patient. This webinar is provided by BSAVA Education Partner IDEXX. A collection of IDEXX ‘topic of the month’ webinars is available here.

Paul Mahoney is a veterinary surgeon employed with Idexx Laboratories as part of their Teleradiology team.