Blog Archives - Rapid Test Kits for Animal Health

Feline fFT4 Testing When Should It Be Used in Cats

Feline free thyroxine (fFT4) is a useful thyroid marker in cats, especially when hyperthyroidism is suspected but the diagnostic picture is not yet straightforward. Hyperthyroidism is most common in older cats, usually over 7 years of age, and typical signs include weight loss despite a good appetite, hyperactivity, increased vocalization,…

Clostridium perfringens in Cattle: What Veterinarians and Producers Should Know

Clostridium perfringens is a Gram positive, anaerobic, spore forming bacterium that is widely present in the environment and in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. In cattle, certain toxigenic strains are associated with acute enteric disease, enterotoxemia, hemorrhagic enteritis, and in some cases sudden death. In neonatal calves, disease may progress…

cCRP in Dogs: A Practical Inflammation Marker for Veterinary Use

Canine C reactive protein (cCRP) is one of the main acute phase proteins in dogs and is widely used as a sensitive marker of systemic inflammation. Its concentration can increase rapidly in response to inflammatory stimuli and may decline again as the underlying condition improves. This makes cCRP useful not…

African Horse Sickness in Horses

African horse sickness (AHS) is a severe, vector borne viral disease of equids caused by African horse sickness virus (AHSV), an orbivirus with nine recognized serotypes. It is infectious but not directly contagious between horses; transmission occurs mainly through Culicoides biting midges. Horses are the most susceptible species, and mortality…

Avian Bordetella Bronchitis (Bordetellosis) in Poultry

Avian bordetellosis is a contagious upper respiratory tract disease seen most often in young turkeys and caused mainly by Bordetella avium (and less commonly Bordetella hinzii). Flocks can show high morbidity with typically low mortality in uncomplicated cases, but growth setbacks and secondary infections can increase losses in commercial settings. …

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) in Cattle

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a chronic infectious disease of cattle caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC). It can also affect wildlife and other domestic species and has public health relevance because MTBC organisms can infect people, particularly through unpasteurized dairy products or aerosol…

Salmonid Rickettsial Septicaemia (SRS) in Fish

Salmonid rickettsial septicaemia (SRS), also called piscirickettsiosis, is an important bacterial disease of farmed salmonids. It is caused by Piscirickettsia salmonis, a Gram negative bacterium that can multiply inside fish cells, which supports persistence and systemic disease in aquaculture. SRS can lead to mortality, reduced growth, and higher treatment costs…

White Spot Syndrome Disease (WSSD) in Shrimp

White spot syndrome disease (WSSD) is caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and can trigger sudden, high mortality in farmed shrimp and prawns. Because the virus can move quickly between ponds, farms usually prioritize early suspicion, fast confirmation, and strong biosecurity. WSSV is listed by WOAH, so outbreaks may…

Equine Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) in horses

What is EHV-1 and why can horses look normal? EHV-1 is an alphaherpesvirus common in equine populations. After an initial infection (often a mild respiratory illness), the virus can establish lifelong latency. Horses may look clinically normal for long periods and still contribute to transmission when the virus reactivates under…

Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) in Cattle: What Veterinarians and Producers Should Be Aware

Bovine coronavirus is an enveloped RNA virus that causes enteric disease in young calves and is a well established cause of winter dysentery in adult cattle. It has also been associated with respiratory disease within the bovine respiratory disease complex. How cattle become infected BCoV spreads through feces and…