Author: Madison

The 𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫 is a big sac hanging out next to the liver, which stores 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞. Bile is a product of the liver that contains digestive enzymes to break down fats. Usually the gall bladder is only one “lobe” or sac, but in some cases there can be multiple!

Gram stains are probably one of the most frequently requested special stains. This stain highlights 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚, which can be incredibly difficult to identify on our standard H&E stain!

𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 refers to a mite infestation, and pulmonary refers to the lungs. Putting that together, pulmonary acariasis is a mite infestation within the lungs. Gross! 🤮

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 is a mysterious disease that causes 𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 (rapid onset liver inflammation) in horses. Ultimately, this disease results in severe liver failure.

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐬 are a type of ammunition, which are basically small balls made of lead, steel or other metals. They are most commonly used in bird and game hunting.

Oil red O is a red dye that specifically highlights 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐬, dying them a bright red colour. Most of our stains can be done on 𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞 (tissue preserved in formalin), but the fixation process actually removes all of the fat! So this stain must be done on fresh or frozen tissue.

𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐬 is a fungal infection caused by 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐦. This very tiny fungus is found worldwide, however it is most common in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.

𝐋𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 is a viral disease that causes lumps on the skin (I know, shocking). This disease is most commonly seen in Africa.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐧𝐬 are the seeds of certain types of plants, which have characteristic barbs that allow them to embed into tissue. This is great for the plant, as it means their seeds are spread great distances, but it can be very bad for the animal!

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐚 is a tumour that arises from the 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐮𝐦, the lining of the body cavities. These linings include the 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐚 (lining the thorax), the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐦 (lining the abdomen) and the 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 (around the heart).