This NebGuide discusses the importance of submitting proper specimens to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory as an aid in diagnosing infectious diseases, feed imbalance, or animal poisoning. According to Stedmans Dictionary , disease is an interruption, cessation or disorder of body functions, systems or organs. Serious irreversible damage can occur in subclinical disease if therapeutic or preventive measures are not undertaken early.
Accurate diagnosis is necessary to correct the cause of the problem.
In these cases immune responses can occur that aid in determining a cause of disease. Each of these is a part of the individual from birth, but each may be significantly altered by hereditary, nutritional and environmental factors and infectious diseases. This exposure can occur during natural infection, or by artificial inoculation of the animal with vaccines. Occasionally an animal does not respond sufficiently and is not protected. In this case the animal becomes sick and is infected.