NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

02/12/2026

Dr. Brianna Stenger, Dr. Quynn Steichen, and Dr. Brett Webb of the NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory were recently featured in the North Dakota Stockman (January 2026) for their work on bovine coronavirus (BCoV) — a virus that contributes to calf scours and respiratory disease in cattle of all ages.

Their work found:
• Unusual early-age infections in calves
• Significant intestinal damage in affected animals
• Multiple circulating strains of BCoV in North Dakota

What does this mean for producers?
Vaccination is important, but it’s just one tool. Good colostrum management, biosecurity, and timely diagnostic testing remain key to protecting herd health.

Read the full article “Bovine coronavirus diversity: from pathology to genomic sequencing,” in The North Dakota Stockman, January 2026 edition. https://buff.ly/njXe60e

02/11/2026

Did you know that bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most common and costly disease affecting the North American beef cattle industry?

Read more about BRD in our Winter Newsletter: https://buff.ly/PlqsYUX or learn about our BRD PCR assay and aerobic culture guidelines here: https://buff.ly/tVAj74q

02/09/2026

02/06/2026

🕵️‍♀️ Mystery Case Time!

A young cat with progressive neurologic signs and weight loss. Necropsy showed poor body condition, reddened meninges/cerebrum, and striking renal lesions—multifocal tan cortical foci and an adherent, thickened capsule. Other organs were grossly unremarkable.

🔬 Histopathology revealed widespread disease:
Severe meningoencephalitis/ventriculitis, interstitial pneumonia, nephritis, enteritis, and endophthalmitis.

🧪 What tests would you run? What’s your tentative diagnosis?
👉 Dive into the full case: https://buff.ly/C6aNWAm

💬 Share your diagnostic reasoning below!

02/03/2026

NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory https://buff.ly/VWIP40A

02/02/2026

The January 2026 newsletter is here! For news, case reports and all veterinary laboratory updates, access your copy here! https://buff.ly/PlqsYUX

01/27/2026

🐄 F***l testing tip:
Ground-collected samples lead to contamination and inaccurate results. For the best diagnostics, submit a fresh f***l sample collected directly from the animal.

01/26/2026

This week, Dr. Kelli Maddock and Sarah Gefroh are representing the NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the annual CLSI meeting in Tempe, AZ. Through their involvement on multiple committees and in leadership roles, they advocate for the development of improved, standardized antimicrobial susceptibility testing and reporting guidance at an international level.

01/21/2026

🐄 Why a calf necropsy matters
One calf necropsy can represent insight for an entire group—often up to 50 calves in the same herd.
💰 The math matters:
• 50 calves × 600–800 lb
• $3.50 per lb live weight
• $105,000–$140,000 in potential herd value

🔍 A $180 necropsy investigation can help identify disease, management, or nutritional issues early—potentially saving a producer ~$120,000 by preventing further losses.

📈 Small diagnostic investment. Big herd-level impact.

If you’re experiencing unexplained losses or want answers that protect the rest of the herd, a necropsy can be one of the most cost-effective tools available.

📞 Contact the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to discuss submission options and turnaround times.

01/16/2026

Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes to ensure new lab technology is accurate and reliable?

Our microbiology team recently published a paper in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology highlighting the rigorous work involved in validating a new antimicrobial test method. The study showcases how the method was implemented using the highest standards outlined in the Manual of Clinical Microbiology and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.

While validation requirements in human medicine are often more stringent than those routinely applied in veterinary diagnostics, this work demonstrates that veterinary laboratories can adopt and appropriately scale these same standards—ensuring consistently high-quality, reliable results across both human and animal health sectors.

Access the paper here: https://buff.ly/HK89DYD

01/15/2026

The NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is hiring a toxicologist!
For more information or to apply, visit: https://buff.ly/iAK3XsD

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