Adam Birkenheuer, DVM, PhD, DACVIM

Dr. Adam Birkenheuer explains the relevance of Occam's razor when looking through your laboratory test results.From the CVC in San Diego, veterinary internist Dr. Adam Birkenheuer explains the relevance of Occam's razor when looking through your laboratory test results. 

Dr. Adam Birkenheuer gives pointers to make sure you get the most out of your laboratory test results.You run and review the results of complete blood counts and serum chemistry profiles all the time. But important conclusions may elude you if you rush through your analysis. Here are a few common areas you might overlook.

In my opinion, the introduction of in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays for infectious disease screening has been one of the most useful innovations in veterinary medicine. On occasion however it can create a mild "dilemma" for us as clinicians.

RMSF caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is an acute systemic disease of dogs and humans. RMSF is generally seasonal (Apr.-Sept.) correlating with the Dermacentor sp. lifecycle.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria in the genus Leptospira. The taxonomy of genus Leptospira is complex and continuing to evolve. Historically, there were only two recognized species, L. interrogans and L. biflexa, that were further divided into nearly 300 serovars.

Canine babesiosis was first described in South Africa in the late 1800's and was originally presumed to be a "biliary form" of canine distemper. Most researchers assume that this was actually a case of babesiosis caused by Babesia canis rossi.