CAHFS Connection - July 2026
Managing Editor: Kerry Ballinger
Design Editor: Lucy Gomes
Contributors Ashley Hill • Asli Mete • Cassie Powers • Emma Torii • Francisco Uzal • Heather Fritz • Patricia Blanchard • Roberto Olivares • Simone Stoute • Tamires Goneli Wichert Teodoro
Announcements
CAHFS Turlock is Moving!
The California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) Turlock Laboratory is excited to announce the opening of our new facility at 830 Dianne Drive, Turlock, CA 95380, beginning July 20, 2026. The move also marks an important expansion of services, as the new CAHFS-Turlock will be able to provide necropsy services for mammalian species in addition to its established poultry diagnostic program.
To facilitate the move, the Turlock laboratory will be temporarily closed July 13–17, 2026, and no sample receiving or shipping services will be available during that time. To minimize delays, clients are encouraged to submit samples directly to our Davis or Tulare laboratories between July 5 and July 19, 2026. Samples received at the current Turlock location after July 4 may be redirected to these locations for processing.
New World Screwworm
New World Screwworm (NWS) has been detected in multiple counties in Texas and New Mexico over the past month. At this time, there are NO confirmed detections of New World Screwworm in California. Screwworms are fly larvae (maggots) that feed on living flesh. These parasites can infect any warm-blooded animal. Screwworms enter wounds as small as a tick-bite and feed on living tissue in the area.
Screwworm infestation is a foreign animal disease and must be reported to CDFA or USDA animal health officials within 24 hours of diagnosis or suspicion for all livestock and pets. NWS is not a food safety concern.
Infested animals may present with enlarging, draining, foul-smelling wounds and weight loss; they may isolate themselves and show signs of discomfort. Animals may die from secondary infection or toxicity in 7-14 days if not treated.
California animal owners and veterinarians should monitor for draining or enlarging wounds (especially at sites of castration, dehorning, branding, or shearing), fly egg or maggot infestations, and lesions around body openings (ears, nose, genital area, umbilicus). All suspicious cases should be reported to CDFA immediately at 866-922-2473.
CDFA has instituted entry requirements for animals entering CA from NWS affected areas. See CDFA website for more details.
General
Aquatic
Egg bound was diagnosed in a 5-year-old female koi fish that was euthanized for an enlarged belly. Occupying about 80% of the coelomic cavity were large rafts of numerous immature eggs (Fig. 1). There were no significant histopathologic findings. Egg bound, a condition characterized by failure of the ovary to release their eggs, was diagnosed. If left untreated, the retained eggs may cause severe internal inflammation or rupture of the reproductive tract, which can be fatal.
Avian
Cecal coccidiosis was diagnosed in a juvenile female chicken. Nine young chickens out of 63 animals at this farm were found dead with no reported clinical signs being observed. On gross evaluation the mucosa of both ceca was dark red and contained abundant friable fibrinous material (Fig. 2). Microscopically, the mucosa of the ceca was hemorrhagic, necrotic, and infiltrated by fibrin and numerous coccidian organisms (Fig. 3). A fecal flotation confirmed a high load of coccidian oocysts. These findings are most consistent with Eimeria tenella. Cecal coccidiosis is a severe and fatal protozoal disease in poultry that leads to intestinal hemorrhage, bloody droppings, and high mortality rates in young birds.
Bovine
Tritrichomonas foetus was the cause of abortion in an approximately 2-month-gestation fetus from a group of Angus crossbred cows, where 70 out of 213 cows were diagnosed as open. Historically, the herd had a pregnancy rate of >90%. T. foetus PCR was positive on placenta, abomasum and liver. The protozoa organism was visualized on histology in large numbers in the placenta, and in low numbers in the lungs and small intestine. Trichomoniasis can lead to repeat breeding, abortion, or pyometra. Abortions most commonly occur in the first half of the pregnancy, but may happen at any time. The infection is persistent in the bulls and spreads from cow to cow via natural service. The disease is reportable in California.
Equine
Rupture of the external iliac artery resulting in hypovolemic shock was the cause of death in a postpartum mare with history of sudden death. Gross lesions included pale oral and ocular mucous membranes, uterine prolapse, hemoperitoneum and rupture of the external iliac artery. Arterial rupture associated with fatal intra-abdominal hemorrhage is a well-documented condition in older multiparous mares. Previous studies suggest that the pathogenesis involves progressive degeneration and weakening of the arterial wall secondary to repeated pregnancies, predisposing affected vessels to rupture. The uterine artery is reported to be the vessel most commonly affected, but in the present case, rupture of the external iliac artery was identified.
Porcine
Congenital ventricular septal defect leading to severe cardiac dilation was diagnosed in a 6-month-old male pig with a history of cardiac enlargement and respiratory distress. At necropsy, a large amount of yellow fluid with scant fibrin was present in the thorax and abdomen along with severe cardiomegaly. The heart weight was 419.9 g (approximately 1% of body weight) and both ventricular chambers were severely dilated. There was a ventricular septal defect connecting the left and right ventricles (Fig. 4). The pulmonary artery was markedly dilated. Histologically, the heart showed multifocal mild myocardial fibrosis, and the liver showed centrilobular fibrosis and chronic congestion. In addition, there was evidence of chronic-active bronchopneumonia, with moderate interstitial fibrosis and mild lymphohistiocytic and neutrophilic polyserositis of possible bacterial origin.
Small Ruminants
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia was diagnosed in an 8-week-old goat kid with a 4-day history of lethargy, fever and respiratory disease followed by death. Grossly, both lungs were diffusely dark red, rubbery, and mildly firm. Microscopically there was bronchointerstitial pneumonia with a few multinucleate cells on histology consistent with viral infection. RSV immunohistochemistry was positive on lung tissue and nasal turbinates, confirming infection by this virus. Serology for RSV was negative, consistent with acute infection.
Other
Spinal nerve axonal degeneration and C1 fracture was diagnosed in tissues submitted from a 5-year-old male intact reticulated giraffe. The giraffe was found dead with his head stuck in a fence. Gross evaluation of the neck revealed an incomplete fracture on the left wing of C1 (Fig. 5). Microscopic evaluation of the spinal nerves and spinal cord revealed acute axonal degeneration. These findings are suggestive of acute trauma.
Holiday Schedule
Independence Day: Friday July 3, 2026, Closed
Employment Opportunities
Office Manager (ADMIN SUPV 1) San Bernardino – Job# 87084
Plan, coordinate and manage administrative activities supporting the laboratory. Responsibilities include management of case reporting, personnel/affirmative action, fiscal policies and operations, purchasing, facilities maintenance and providing overall administrative support to the Branch Chief. Function as the IT computer resource support and quality assurance support for the CAHFS San Bernardino laboratory.