Diagnostics Flashcards
What is the diagnostic test of choice for confirming chlamydophilosis in a pet bird?
Histologic or cytologic demonstration of the organism (elementary bodies) in smears, fluids, or tissue.
Polymerase chain reaction demonstration of DNA, or specialized culture isolation, are also possible but less practical.
On radiographs of the equine tarsus, where are the 2 most common locations of osteochondrosis?
1) Cranial aspect of the intermediate ridge of the distal tibia
2) Lateral trochlear ridge of the talus
Which endocrine test should be performed on an animal with gastrointestinal signs, lethargy, and the lack of a stress leukogram on its complete blood count?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test (rule in or out hypoadrenocorticism)
On a patient’s electrocardiogram, ST segment depression becomes apparent. What does this usually indicate?
Myocardial hypoxia
What is the purpose of using a Schiotz tonometer?
Measuring intraocular pressure (glaucoma, uveitis)
Name a circulating cardiac biomarker that indicates elevated intraventricular pressures (as seen with congestive heart failure) and another cardiac biomarker that indicates myocardial damage (as seen with myocarditis).
Elevated intraventricular pressure: The natriuretic peptides (notably NT-proBNP, or B-type natriuretic peptide)
Myocardial damage: The cardiac troponins, cTn-I ans cTn-T.
Laminar cerebrocortical necrosis and eosinophils in the meninges and Virchow-Robin spaces are characteristic histopathological findings of which disease of swine?
Salt toxicity (Sodium poisoning and water intoxication)
Feline asthma is characterized by which radiographic findings?
Bronchial pattern, hyperinflation of lungs, increased radiolucency of lung, flattened diaphragm; normal radiographs do not rule out asthma.
A right lateral radiograph of a dog’s abdomen shows a gas distended stomach. There is a reverse C sign appearance on the stomach. What is the diagnosis?
Gastric dilation volvulus
When performing pericardiocentesis, which intercostal space should be entered, and at which landmark?
5th intercostal space, at the costochondral junction (typically from the right side to minimize the risk of catheter-induced coronary artery laceration).
Where would you expect to find the point of maximal intensity (PMI) of a murmur associated with tricuspid insufficiency?
Right side of the thorax, over the cardiac apex (approximately 4th ICS)
What is the most common serum biochemical abnormality in dogs with primary hypothyroidism?
Fasting hypercholesterolemia
Which of the following does polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detect?
A) Antibody
B) Protein
C) Nucleic acid
D) Antigen
C) Nucleic acid
The chain reaction (CR in PCR) refers to exponential expansion of nucleic acid chains.
On ECG, P waves occur at regular intervals, and wide, bizarre QRS complexes occur at a much slower rate, unrelated to the P waves. What is the diagnosis?
Third degree (complete) AV block. The wide, bizarre QRS complexes are ventricular escape beats.
Which test is currently the most widely used and preferred method of diagnosing rabies infection in animals?
Direct fluorescent antibody testing of brain tissue
What is the most sensitive and specific blood test for the diagnosis of canine and feline pancreatitis?
Species-specific (canine or feline) serum pancreatic lipase (pLI) concentration.
Anal sac adenocarcinoma is commonly associated with which serum biochemical abnormality?
Hypercalcemia. Previous reports of overrepresentation of females in dogs with anal sac adenocarcinoma are no longer supported.
Which bacterium is most commonly isolated in uncomplicated canine infectious tracheobrionchitis?
Bordetella bronchiseptica. Mycoplasma spp. is also acceptable (though rarely cultured). Several other bacterial species may be involved later as secondary opportunists.
Which cytologic changes in nuclear morphology are characteristic of neoplastic cells and are criteria for malignancy?
Presence of nucleoli, anisokaryosis, clumped chromatin, and high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio
On an echocardiogram, an anechoic (black) space is apparent adjacent to the epicardium. What is the diagnosis?
Pericardial effusion
Describe the expected serum ionized calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP) concentrations in primary hyperparathyroidism.
Elevated ionized calcium with normal to elevated PTH, or normal ionized calcium with elevated PTH; undetectable PTHrP in either case.
Hyperglycemia, glucosuria, ketonuria, and metabolic acidosis are the hallmark findings of which endocrine disorder?
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Name two ways to confirm a suspected diagnosis of retinal detachment in a blind animal.
Fundic examination and ocular ultrasound examination. Only ultrasound is effective if there is severe hyphema, obscuring the anterior an posterior chambers.
During echocardiography, the left atrium is usually compared to which structure for deciding whether left atrial enlargement is present? (a ratio of about 1:1 is expected in most animals)
Aorta. The proximal aorta is anchored to the fibrous cardiac skeleton and therefore almost never changes in size with any heart disease, making it an excellent reference point.
Which type of urinary crystal is observed in normal Dalmatian dogs or dogs with liver disease?
Ammonium biurate crystals
When a standing lateral thoracic radiograph of a horse is taken, which lung is most clearly seen - the lung field closest to the cassette, or the opposite lung field?
Lung field closest to the cassette. The opposite lung field gets distorted due to the great width of the equine chest.
At which sites in the canine stifle does osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) occur most commonly?
Lateral and medial femoral condyles
Which form of Blastomyces dermatidis is most commonly found on cytological or histopathological preparations of infected tissues?
Yeasts (classically broad-based budding). Never cultured in-house (risk of aerosol transmission causing zoonosis)
In dogs and cats, what is the most reliable blood test for detecting liver disease such as a portosystemic shunt?
Serum bile acids (elevated postprandial bile acid level)
Which form of Coccidioides immitis may be found on cytological or histopathological preparations of infected tissues?
Spherules (containing endospores). Never cultured in-house because aerosolization causes zoonosis.
With a primary glomerular disease, would you expect a mild, moderate, or severe proteinuria?
Severe proteinuria with urine protein to urine creatinine ratios often more than 3 and usually more than 5.
Besides the liver, elevations in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) may originate from which other tissue?
Muscle, and minuscule quantities from kidney, red blood cells, brain, and placenta.
What is the simplest test for confirming the patency of the nasolacrimal duct (also called the Jones test)?
Application of fluorescein stain on the eye, and observation for its emergence at the nasolacrimal puncta
Adequate renal concentrating ability is presumed to exist if the urine specific gravity is greater than which value in dogs?
1.030
Decreased production of which substance causes non-regenerative anemia in animals with chronic kidney disease?
Erythropoietin, which is synthesized by the peritubular capillary cells of the kidney
What does an elevated serum l-lactate value indicate? How would this affect the anion gap?
Poor tissue perfusion, decreased oxygenation, anaerobic respiration. It would result in an increased anion gap.
Which common fungal organism has a distinguishing polysaccharide capsule?
Cryptococcus spp.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (formerly called Boxer cardiomyopathy) is characterized by which type of cardiac arrhythmia?
Premature ventricular complexes (right sided) and ventricular tachycardia
What is the most reliable diagnostic test for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
An echocardiogram. Genetic testing of a blood sample for the beta-myosin heavy chain mutation is simpler but less reliable (many false negatives).