Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

K-State home
College of Veterinary Medicine
Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
laboratories
Bacteriology and Mycology
Disease Specific Specimen Selection and Collection

Disease Specific Specimen Selection and Collection

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Abortion, Infectious Bovine	Placenta with cotyledons. Uterine discharge on swab. Fresh whole fetus. Fetal stomach contents. Fetal lung and liver.	Brucella abortus Campylobacter species
Abortion, Mycotic	Placenta with cotyledons. Fetal stomach content.	Aspergillus species Mortierella wolfii
Actinobacillosis Wooden Tongue	Pus from abscess.	Actinobacillus lignieresii
Arcanobacterium Infection	Fresh material from excised abscess on swab or in syringe.	Arcanobacterium pyogenes Corynebacterium spp.
Actinomycosis, Bovine Lumpy Jaw	Fresh material from excised abscess on swab or in syringe.	Actinomyces bovis
Actinomycosis, Canine	Biopsy or fresh material Tracheal wash Thoracocentesis	Actinomyces viscosus
Anaerobic Bacteria	Biopsies & exudates in sterile syringe with plugged needle. Anaerobic transport swab.	Bacteriodes species Fusobacterium spp. Peptococcus sp. Peptostreptococcus sp. Eubacterium sp. Propionibbacterium sp.
Anthrax	Alert Lab! Blood soaked umbilical tape or cotton swabs soaked in extruded blood or blood taken from a superficial ear vein in acute or paracute cases. In swine, send lymph nodes.	Bacillus anthracis
Arthritis	Entire joint in smaller animals. Joint swabs in transport media or joint fluid in sterile syringe.	Streptococcus Arcanobacterium pyogenes Haemophilus Histophilus Erysipelothrix Staphylococcus Mycoplasma
Aspergillosis, Avian	Lung and air sacs. Tracheal wash.	Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus spp.
Atrophic Rhinitis of Swine	Clean external nares with alcohol. Swab 1/2 distance into cavity. Entire nose if animal is sacrificed.	Bordetella bronchiseptica Pasteurella multocida

B

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Bacillary hemoglobinuria Redwater	Portion of liver with infarct.	Clostridium haemolyticum
Bacterial Balanoposthitis and Vulvitis	Pus collected from several animals on swabs and placed in transport media.	Corynebacterium renale C. pilosum
Bacteriuria	Urine or swab – prefer urine sample.	Escherichia coli Proteus Other coliforms Streptococcus spp. Many Gram + and Gram - bacteria
Big Head	Section of tissue with lesion.	Clostridium novyi Clostridium sordelli Clostridium chauvoei (rare)
Black Disease Infectious Necrotic Hepatitis	Section of liver with necrotic lesion	Clostridium novyi type B
Blackleg	Section of muscle with lesion.	Clostridium chauvoei Clostridium novyi Clostridium septicum
Blastomycosis	Transtracheal wash, biopsy or abscess contents from skin.	Blastomyces dermatitidis
Botulism	Food suspected of containing toxin. Section of fresh intestine, tied off. Large section of liver.	Clostridium botulinum
Brucellosis, Bovine Bang's Disease	Placenta & aborted fetus. Lung, Liver, Kidney of fetus. Milk. Semen and testes.	Brucella abortus
Brucellosis, Canine	Females: fetus (lung, liver), placenta & vaginal swabs. Males: semen, testes, epididymis, prostatic fluid.	Brucella canis
Brucellosis, Caprine	Placenta & fetus.	Brucella melitensis
Brucellosis, Ovine Ovine Epididymitis	Aseptically collected semen Fetal cotyledons & fetus. Testicle & epididymis.	Brucella ovis
Brucellosis, Porcine	Fetus, fetal stomach contents, testicles.	Brucella suis
Bursitis	Entire joint in smaller animals. Joint swabs in transport media. Joint fluid.	Streptococcus Corynebacterium Haemophilus Mycoplasma

C

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Campylobacteriosis, Bovine Genital	Fetus, entire. Cervical mucous. Preputial washing. Semen sample.	Campylobacter fetus ssp. venerealis
Campylobacteriosis, Canine Intestinal	Fresh rectal / fecal swabs in transport media.	Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacteriosis, Feline	Fresh rectal / fecal swabs in transport media.	Campylobacter jejuni
Campylobacteriosis, Ovine Genital (OGS)	Fresh whole fetus & fetal stomach contents.	Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus
Candidiasis Candidosis Moniliasis Thrush	Deep scraping of affected area below the pseudomembrane or other extraneous material.	Candidia albicans Candidia spp.
Canine Respiratory Disease	Transtracheal wash. Transthoracic aspirate. Throat swab. Lung tissue.	Bordetella species Pasteurella multocida Pasteurella spp. Pseudomonas spp. Coliforms
Circling Disease	Brain stem	Listeria spp.
Coccidioidomycosis	Exudate of nodules. Biopsies of liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Tissues. Transthoracic aspirate.	Coccidioides imitis
Colibacillosis Bovine and Porcine	Tied off intestine and content. Request pilus antigen testing.	Escherichia coli (K88, K99, 987P)
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM)	Swabs from cervix, urethra & clitoral fossa of mare. Swabs from urethral fossa & penile sheath of male. Notify Laboratory Before Collecting Samples. Samples will be sent to certified lab out of state, and must meet certain specifications.	Taylorella equigenitalis
Contagious Foot Rot of Sheep Foot Rot of Sheep Infectious Foot Rot of Sheep Ovine Digital Dermatitis	Swab from center of lesion after trimming hoof. Requires anaerobic transport media.	Dichlobacter nodosus
Contagious Pleuropneumonia of Swine	Portion of lung.	Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae
Coryza (Turkey) Rhinotracheitis (Chickens)	Trachea Lung	Bordetella avium
Cryptococcosis	Nasal passage material in paranasal form. Material from granulomatous lesions in subcutaneous form. Cerebrospinal fluid. Milk in cryptococcal mastitis. Portions of affected tissues.	Cryptococcus neoformans
Cystitis	Fresh urine.	Escherichia coli Proteus spp. Coliforms Streptococcus spp.

D

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Dermatitis	Clean surface to remove dirt. Swab of lesions in transport media. Sections of skin. Plucked hair.	Staphylococcus hyicus, aureus, intermedius Pseudomonas spp. Streptococcus spp. Fungi (Dermatophytes)
Dermatomycosis	Plucked hair and skin scrapings sent dry in envelope. Sections of skin.	Microsporum spp. Trichophyton spp.
Dermatophilosis (Streptothricosis)	Scabs, crust & plucked hair. Skin biopsy after scab removal.	Dermatophilus congolensis
Diphtheria, Calf	Anaerobic swab of ulcers in trachea. Anaerobic swab of diphtheric membrane.	Fusobacterium necrophorum

E

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Edema Disease Gut Edema of Porcine	Tied off affected intestine. Request pilus antigen testing Can be sent to another lab for serotyping.	Escherichia coli
Enteric Disease	Tied off affected section of intestine. Swabs from intestinal sections.	Escherichia coli Other coliforms Salmonella spp.
Enteric Infections of Young Lambs	Ties off affected section of intestine for aerobic & anaerobic cultures. Aerobic & anaerobic swabs.	Clostirida spp. Coliforms
Enterotoxemia Clostridial enterotoxemia	20-30 ml of ileal content in vial or tied off intestine. Freeze and transport rapidly to laboratory.	Clostridium perfringens
Erysipelas, Swine Diamond Skin Disease	Acute form: Heart blood, portion of kidney, spleen & liver. Arthritic & Cardiac form: Swabs from affected joints, tissues, heart valves.	Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
Exudative Epidermitis Greasy Pig Disease	Clean skin with soap, water and alcohol. Scrape lesions and send to lab on swab in transport media or in sterile syringe.	Staphylococcus hyicus

F

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Fistulas Withers	Fresh material from opened abscess or lymph node. Swab from excised abscess.	Brucella abortus Actinomyces bovis
Foot abscess of Sheep	Fresh pus. Anaerobic swabs if possible.	Arcanobacterium pyogenes Fusobacterium necrophorum Bacteriodes spp.
Foot Rot of Cattle Interdigital Necrobacillosis	Fresh pus. Anaerobic swabs if possible.	Fusobacterium necrophorum
Fowl Cholera Avian Cholera	Pus from joints and other tissues. Lung Liver, intestine. Bone marrow.	Pasteurella multocida
Fowl Typhoid	Egg and / or egg products. Lung, liver, spleen, kidney, intestine.	Salmonella gallinarium Salmonella spp.

G

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Gangrenous Mastitis	Usually mammary tissue. Anaerobic swab from affected quarter.	Clostridium perfringens Clostridia spp.
Gas Gangrene	Affected Tissue	Clostridium perfringens
Geotrichosis	Rarely diagnosed in living anima. Ear swab in canine. Milk sample in cattle. Tissue & scraping from lesions in dead animals.	Geotrichium candidium
Glanders	Notify Lab in Advance! Nasal discharge swab. Swab of cutaneous lesion. Lung & lymph node. Nodules. Pus from Ulcers.	Burkholderia mallei
Glasser's Disease	Preferably a live, sick pig. Swabs for culture from various serous membranes and meninges.	Haemophilus parasuis
Gutteral Pouch Infection	Nasal discharge swab, pus, biopsy of lesion for aerobic & anaerobic culture.	Streptococcus spp. Pasteurella spp. Fusobacterium spp. Bacteroides spp. Other anaerobic bacteria Fungal species

H

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Haemophilus (Histophilus) Infection of Cattle	Brain, lung, joints or joint fluid.	Histophilus somni
Hepatitis, Infectious Necrotic Black Disease	Portion of necrotic liver lesion.	Clostridium novyii
Histoplasmosis	Urine sediment, excised lymph nodes or biopsy, liver biopsy, scrapings from ulcer base, bone marrow aspirate or peripheral blood buffy coat. Necropsy: Lung, liver, spleen, intestine, skin & any granulomas.	Histoplasma capsulatum

I

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Icterohemoglobinuria	Liver with lesions.	Clostridium haemolyticum
Infectious hemoglobinuria	Liver with lesions.	Clostridium haemolyticum
Infectious necrotic hepatitis	Liver with lesions.	Clostridium novyii type B
Infertility	Reproductive tract swabs. Semen, vaginal mucous. Preputial washings.	Brucella abortus Brucella canis Brucella spp. Campylobacter spp. Streptococcus spp. Many other bacteria

J

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Johne's Disease	Requires 8 – 16 Weeks Dead animal: Tissue from ileocecal junction & adjacent lymph nodes. Live animal: Rectally collected fecal sample. Intestinal scraping.	Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

K

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Kennel Cough	Transtracheal wash Transthoracic aspirate Throat swab Lung tissue	Bordetella bronchiseptica
Keratoconjunctivitis Infectious Bovine Pinkeye Infectious Ophthalmia Infectious keratitis	Conjunctival swabs in transport media.	Moraxella bovis

L

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Lamb dysentery	20-30 ml of ileal content in vial or tied off intestine. Freeze & transport rapidly to laboratory.	Clostridium perfringens
Laryngotracheitis, Infectious Canine Kennel Cough Tracheobronchitis	Nasal & tracheal swabs. Tracheal wash.	Bordetella bronchiseptica Pasteurella multocida Other bacteria
Leptospirosis	Can be demonstrated in fetal pericardial fluids. Sometimes seen in urine. Darkfield performed, not cultured.	Leptospira spp.
Listeriosis Circling Disease Listerellosis	Neural form: Brain stem. Visceral form: Liver. Abortion form: Fetus & placenta.	Listeria monocytogenes
Liver Abscesses, Bovine Bovine Hepatic Necrobacillosis	Culture rarely attempted. Liver with visible abscesses.	Fusobacterium necrophorum
Lumpy Jaw	Fresh material from excised abscess on swab or in syringe.	Arcanobacterium pyogenes Actinomyces bovis
Lymphadenitis, Caseous Pseudotuberculosis	Fresh pus on swabs from several lesions. Abscess tissue & lymph node.	Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis
Lymphadenitis, Streptoccal Jowl Abscesses Cervical Lymphadenitis of Swine Cervical Abscesses of Swine	Fresh pus from an excised lymph node.	Streptococcus species
Lymphangitis, Ulcerative	Pus on swab from excised nodule.	Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

M

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Malignant Edema	Dead animal: Muscle Live animal: Fluid or material from lesion in a syringe.	Clostridium septicum
Mastitis	Aseptically collected milk samples in sterile screw top containers.	Staphlococcus spp. Streptococcus spp. Coliforms Mycoplasma spp. Many other bacteria
Meningitis	Cerebral spinal fluid. Brain. Meningeal Swab.	Streptococcus spp. Streptococcus suis Haemophilus somnus Cryptococcus neoformans Listeria monocytogenes
Mycoplasma Infections	Depends upon disease and animal species. See section on Mycoplasma.	Mycoplasma spp.

N

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Nasal Aspergillosis Canine Nasal Aspergillosis	Swabs from nasal cavity & curretted material from lesion.	Aspergillus species
Naval Ill Neonatal Septicemia	Depends upon duration of infection. Affected tissue or joint.	Arcanobacterium pyogenes Streptococcus spp. Corynebacterium spp.
Necrobacillosis of the liver	Affected liver tissue.	Fusobacterium necrophorum
Neonatal diarrhea	See Enteric Disease	Escherichia coli
Nocardiosis	Fresh pus & exudate from lesion. Excision may be necessary. Thoracocentesis or tracheal wash. Milk sample from affected quarter.	Nocardia asteroids

O

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Ornithosis (Avian)	Fecal sample Air sac tissue	Chlamydia psittaci
Otitis Externa, Canine Otitis Externa, Feline	Ear swabs for bacterial & fungal culture.	Proteus species Pseudomonas spp. Staphylococcus spp. Streptococcus spp, Coliforms Yeasts (Pityrosporum spp.)
Overeating Disease	Tied off section of intestine.	Clostridium perfringens

P

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Paratuberculosis Johne's Disease	See Johne's Disease	Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
Pasteurellosis Bovine Pneumonic Shipping Fever Bovine Respiratory Disease	Nasal swab in Transport media. Transtracheal washings. Portion of affected lung.	Pasteurella multocida Mannheimia haemolytica Histophilus somni Arcanobacterium pyogenes
Pasteurellosis, Ovine Pneumonic Enzootic Pneumonia of Sheep	Affected section of lung.	Mannheimia haemolytica Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae
Pinkeye	Eye swab Eyeball	Moraxella bovis
Plague	Notify Lab Before Sending Samples Exudate from abscess Swollen lymph node	Yersinia pestis
Pneumonia, Swine Enzootic Virus Pneumonia of Pigs Mycoplasma Pneumonia of Swine VPP	Portions of affected lung. Sick or recently dead pigs.	Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae
Polyarthritis, Chlamydial Transmissible Serositis	Joints & joint fluids.	Chlamydia psittaci
Psittacosis	See Ornithosis	Chlamydia psittaci
Proliferative ileitis	Portions of affected intestine including spiral colon & ileum.	Lawsonia intercellularis
Poll evil	Fresh material from newly opened abscess. Fresh material from excised abscess.	Brucella abortus Arcanobacterium pyogenes
Pulpy kidney disease	Affected kidney tissue.	Clostridium perfringens
Pyelonephritis, Bovine	Midstream sample of urine. Portion of affected kidney, ureter, bladder & urethra.	Corynebacterium renale

Q

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition

R

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Rhodoccal Pneumonia of Foals	Cervical swab of mare. Transtracheal aspirate. Nasal discharge swab. Lung and lymph nodes with lesions.	Rhodococcus equi
Ringworm Dermatomycoses Dermatitis, fungal	Plucked hair and skin scrapings sent in dry envelope.	Trichophyton spp. Microsporum spp.

S

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Salmonellosis	Rectally collected feces. Dead animal: Intestine, liver, spleen, lung & lymph nodes.	Salmonella serovars
Shipping Fever	Lung	Pasteurella multocida Histophilus somni Mannheimia haemolytica Arcanobacterium pyogenes
Sleepy Foal Disease	Brain	Actinobacillus equuli
Snuffles	Nasal swab	Pasteurella multocida Bordetella bronchiseptica
Sporothrichosis	Aseptically collected pus from unopened lesion. Abscess aspirate Lymph node Wound swab	Sporotrichum schenckii
Strangles	Fresh pus taken on a swab from an excised abscess.	Streptococcus equi
Streptothricosis Dermatophilosis	Scabs & hair.	Dermatophilus congolensis

T

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
TEME Infectious Thromboembolic Meningoencephalitis	Brain	Histophilus somni
Tetanus	Rarely needs laboratory confirmation. Wound tissue collected & maintained in anaerobic condition. Anaerobic transport swab.	Clostridium tetani
Tuberculosis	Affected tissue.	Mycobacterium spp.
Tuberculosis, Bovine	Mesenteric lymph nodes in calves. Adults: Lungs and pulmonary lymph nodes.	Mycobacterium bovis
Tularemia Rabbit Fever	Notify Lab! Liver, lung, kidney, spleen & lymph nodes with lesions.	Francisella tularensis
Tyzzer's Disease	Unable to culture. Culturing tissues can rule out other infections such as Salmonellosis, Sleepy Foal Disease, and Rhodoccus	Clostridium piliformis

U

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition

V

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Vibriosis	Fetal fluids for culture. Preputial washing or cervical mucous.	Campylobacter fetus

W

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Wooden Tongue	Pus from fresh, non-discharging abscess	Actinomyces bovis Actinobacillus ligniersii

X

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition

Y

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition
Yersinia enterocoliticia Infection	Feces Portions of tissue with necrotic & caseous lesions	Yersinia enterocoliticia
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection Pseudotuberculosis	Feces Portions of tissue with necrotic & caseous lesions	Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Z

Disease Suspected/Condition	Tissue to submit	Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition