Sharon M Dial

Interests

Teaching

veterinary pathology

Research

coccidioidomycosis

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Books

• Englar, R., & Dial, S. M. (2023). Low-Cost Veterinary Clinical Diagnostics. Wiley-Blackwell.
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  Low-Cost Veterinary Clinical DiagnosticsA practical guide to maximizing the diagnostic value of in-house quick assessment tests (QATs)In Low-Cost Veterinary Clinical Diagnostics, the authors provide a hands-on resource designed to facilitate healthcare delivery across the spectrum of care.Historically, clinicians have been taught to apply the gold standard approach to the practice of medicine. However, recent advances in veterinary medical care and associated technologies have made practitioners question whether a one-size-fits-all approach is truly best. After all, when we perform diagnostic tests, are we testing out of the desire for completeness, to cover all bases for the good of the patient? Or are we testing because we are expected to?The reality is that gold standard care is not always advisable and not always possible. In clinical practice, veterinarians frequently encounter obstacles that limit their approaches to case management. Cost of care is a significant constraint that requires practitioners to rethink which diagnostic tests are essential.Not every patient requires a complete blood count (CBC), chemistry profile, urinalysis, and fecal analysis to obtain diagnostic value. This text suggests that the “best” approach to case management be determined by the situation, the context, the patient, and the client.While sophisticated panels of tests may remain the recommended approach to case management, Low-Cost Veterinary Clinical Diagnostics outlines entry-level, in-house diagnostic blood, urine, fecal, and body cavity fluid tests: how to perform them as well as the breadth and depth of patient-specific data that can be gleaned from quick assessment tests (QATs).
• Dial, S. M. (2015). Clinical Veterinary Advisor.
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  Contributing author for collection of short topics in small animal medicine.
• Dial, S. M. (2010).

  Clinical Pathology for the Veterinary Team

  .
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  About the Authors ix Foreword xi 1. Sample Handling and Laboratory Standardization Developing Standard Operating Procedures 1 2. Components of the Complete Blood Count 19 3. Hematology: The Erythrocytes, White Blood Cells, and Immune System 33 4. Abnormalities in the Red and White Blood Cell Populations 45 5. Renal Physiology and Anatomy, Clinical Diagnostics, and Disease 75 6. Liver Physiology and Anatomy, Clinical Diagnostics, and Disease 93 7. Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Physiology and Anatomy, Clinical Diagnostics, and Disease 105 8. Electrolyte Physiology, Function, and Derangement 119 9. Components of the Urinalysis 129 10. Evaluating the Urinalysis with Disease Conditions 139 11. Adrenal Function and Testing 151 12. Blood Gas 167 13. Coagulation 175 14. Emergency Diagnostics A Discussion of Shock and Clinical Diagnostics 183 15. Obtaining Samples from Different Body Systems and Evaluating Cytology 193 Appendix A: Tables 207 Appendix B: Clinical Pathology for the Veterinary Team DVD Instructions 237 Appendix C: Case Worksheet for Clinical Pathology Cases 247 Additional Resources 257 Glossary 259 Index 271 Cases See companion DVD

Chapters

• Thrall, M., Osweiler, G. D., Grauer, G. F., Connally, H. E., & Dial, S. M. (2016). Ethylene glycol toxicity. In The 5-minute Veterinary Consult(pp 468-469). Lippincott, Williams and Wilkens.
• Dial, S. M. (2014). Section IV: Laboratory Tests. In Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats(pp 1350, 1358, 1359, 1369,1412, 1413, 1415, 1416, 1427.). Elsevier.
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  Test descriptions authored: Acanthocytes, Anion Gap, Aspergillus spp. Serology, Brucella Slide Agglutination, Lymphocyte Flow Cytometry, Lymphocytes Polymerase Chain Reaction, Mast Cell Tumor Prognostic Panel, Mycoplasma spp. Culture, Mycobacterial Culture, Neospora Caninum Serology, Rabies Diagnostic Testing,Clinical Veterinary Advisor is a comprehensive reference for essential diagnostic and therapeutic information for dogs and cats. Contributing authors provided a concise description of specific tests including: definition, physiology/biology, causes of abnormally high or positive tests, next diagnostic steps, important interspecies differences, laboratory artifacts, specimen collection and handling, cost, and "pearls" or relevant tips to the best use of the test

Journals/Publications

• Shubitz, L. F., Powell, D. A., Dial, S. M., Butkiewicz, C. D., Trinh, H. T., Hsu, A. P., Buntzman, A., Frelinger, J. A., & Galgiani, J. N. (2022). Reactivation of Coccidioidomycosis in a Mouse Model of Asymptomatic Controlled Disease. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland), 8(10).
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  The majority of human coccidioidomycosis infections are asymptomatic or self-limited but may have sequestered spherules in highly structured granulomas. Under immunosuppression, reactivation of fungal growth can result in severe disease. B6D2F1 mice asymptomatically infected with strain 1038 were immunosuppressed with dexamethasone (DXM) in drinking water. Treated mice died 16-25 days later, while untreated mice survived ( < 0.001). Flow cytometry of lung granulomas on days 5, 10, 15, and 20 of DXM treatment showed immune cell populations decreased 0.5-1 log compared with untreated mice though neutrophils and CD19IgDIgM cells rebounded by day 20. Histopathology demonstrated loss of granuloma structure by day 5 and increasing spherules through day 20. On day 20, T-cells were nearly absent and disorganized pyogranulomatous lesions included sheets of plasma cells and innumerable spherules. Mice given DXM for 14 days then stopped (DXM stop) survived 6 weeks (9/10). Lung fungal burdens were significantly lower ( = 0.0447) than mice that continued treatment (DXM cont) but higher than untreated mice. Histopathologically, DXM stop mice did not redevelop controlled granulomas by sacrifice, though T-cells were densely scattered throughout the lesions. This demonstrates a mouse model suitable for further study to understand the immunologic components responsible for maintenance control of coccidioidomycosis.
• Harris, L., & Dial, S. M. (2017). An Unusual Case of Portal Hypertension Secondary to Primary Hypoplasia of the Portal Vein. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 53(6), 331-337. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6428
• Simões, D. M., & Dial, S. M. (2016). Retrospective analysis of cutaneous lesions in 23 canine and 17 feline cases of coccidiodomycosis seen in Arizona, USA (2009-2015).. Vet Dermatol, 27(5), 346-e87. doi:10.1111/vde.12356
• Deaver, S., Hoyer, P., Dial, S., Field, M., Collier, R., & Rhoads, M. (2013). Localization of ghrelin and its receptor in the reproductive tract of Holstein heifers. J Dairy Sci, 96(1), 150-157.
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  doi: 10.3168/jds.2012-5506. Epub 2012 Nov 8
• Morrison, C., Dial, S., Day, W. J., & Joens, L. (2012). Investigations of Salmonella enterica serovar newport infections of oysters by using immunohistochemistry and knockout mutagenesis. Appl Environ Microbiol, 78(8), 2867-2873.
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  doi: 10.1128/AEM.07456-11. Epub 2012 Feb 3.
• Galgiani, J. N., Shubitz, L., & Dial, S. M. (2011). T-lymphocyte predominance in lesions of canine coccidioidomycosis. Vet Pathol, 48(5), 1008-11. doi:10.1177/0300985810384410
• Kidney, B. A., Dial, S. M., & Christopher, M. M. (2009). Guidelines for resident training in veterinary clinical pathology. III: cytopathology and surgical pathology. Vet Clin Pathol, 38(3), 281-287. doi:10.1111/j.1939-165X.2009.00172.x.
• Songer, G. G., Trinh, H. T., Dial, S. M., & Glock, R. (2009). Equine colitis X associated with infection by Clostridium difficile NAP1/027. J Vet Diagn Invest, 21(3), 377-380.
• Graupmann-Kuzma, A., Valentine, B. A., Shubitz, L., Dial, S. M., Watrous, B., & Tornquist, S. J. (2008). Coccidioidomycosis in dogs and cats: a review. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc, 44(5), 226-235.
• Shubitz, L., Dial, S. M., Perrill, R., Casement, R., & Galgiani, J. N. (2008). Vaccine-induced cellular immune responses differ from innate responses in susceptible and resistant strains of mice infected with Coccidioides posadasii.. Infect Immun, 76(12), 5553-5564. doi:10.1128/IAI.00885-08
• Akporiaye, E. T., Bradley-Dunlop, D., Gendler, S. J., Mukherjee, P., Madsen, C. S., Hahn, T., Besselsen, D. G., Dial, S. M., Cui, H., & Trevor, K. (2007). Characterization of the MUC1.Tg/MIN transgenic mouse as a model for studying antigen-specific immunotherapy of adenomas. Vaccine, 25(39-40), 6965-6974.
• Dial, S. M., Sharkey, L. C., & Matz, M. e. (2007). Maximizing the diagnostic value of cytology in small animal practice. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 37(2), 351-372.
• Dial, S., & Dial, S. M. (2007). Fungal diagnostics: current techniques and future trends. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 37(2).
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  The diagnosis of fungal disease is a challenge that requires diligent attention to history and clinical signs as well as an astute ability to interpret laboratory data. Because fungal disease can mimic other infectious and neoplastic diseases in clinical presentation, the clinician has to be aware of fungal diseases common locally as well as in other regions of the country. A global approach to the diagnosis of fungal disease that correlates clinical signs as well as physical examination, clinical pathology, and histopathology findings with serology, culture, and the newer immunohistochemical and molecular techniques, where available, is the best approach to optimize the identification of the underlying agent.
• Dial, S., Butkiewicz, C. D., Shubitz, L. E., & Dial, S. M. (2005). Risk factors associated with Coccidioides infection in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 226(11).
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  To evaluate potential risk factors for Coccidioides infection among dogs living in a region in which the organism is endemic (Pima and Maricopa counties, Arizona).
• Dial, S., Shubitz, L. F., & Dial, S. M. (2005). Coccidioidomycosis: a diagnostic challenge. Clinical techniques in small animal practice, 20(4).
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  Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection acquired endemically in the southwestern United States. Clinical disease is quite common in the dog; though less frequently recognized in the cat, disease is often severe at the time of diagnosis. Diagnosis can be a challenge because serology, while specific, is not very sensitive and quantitative titration of antibodies does not correlate entirely with clinical disease in dogs. Radiographs, serum biochemistry tests and complete blood counts are beneficial additions to the database when establishing a diagnosis; cytology, histopathology, and culture are definitive when available. Advanced imaging can detect central nervous system and subtle skeletal lesions. Disease can occur in most organs of the body and may prove a diagnostic challenge requiring several modalities. Coccidioidomycosis may need to be considered both in animals in the endemic region and in those with a travel history through it.
• Li, l., Dial, S. M., Schmelz, M., Rennels, M. A., & Ampel, N. (2005). Cellular immune suppressor activity resides in lymphocyte cell clusters adjacent to granulomata in human coccidioidomycosis. Infect Immun, 73(7), 3923-3928.
• Ramanathapuram, L. V., Hahn, T., Dial, S. M., & Akporiaye, E. T. (2005). Chemo-immunotherapy of breast cancer using vesiculated alpha-tocopheryl succinate in combination with dendritic cell vaccination. Nutr Cancer, 53(2), 177-193.
• Shubitz, L., Butkiewicz, C. D., Dial, S. M., & Lindan, C. P. (2005). Incidence of coccidioides infection among dogs residing in a region in which the organism is endemic. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 226(11), 1846-1850.
• Dial, S. M. (1995).

  Clinicopathologic evaluation of the liver.

  . The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice, 25(2), 257-73. doi:10.1016/s0195-5616(95)50026-9
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  Clinicopathologic data are important tools in the evaluation of a patient with liver dysfunction. It is imperative, however, that the data not be looked at with a dogmatic approach. Many of the laboratory tests are sensitive indicators of hepatic dysfunction; however, they seldom, if ever, indicate a specific cause of hepatic dysfunction. History, physical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic examination findings, and laboratory data must be used together to fully evaluate a patient with biochemical abnormalities related to hepatic function. The prevalence of secondary hepatic disease and the difficulty of differentiating it from primary hepatic disease based on laboratory data must always be kept in mind.

Presentations

• Matz, M. M. (2013, September). Internal Medicine: When Laboratory Test don't fit.. Continuing Education Presentation. Tucson, AZ: Southern Arizona Veterinary Medical Association.
• Dial, S. M. (2012). Surgical Pathology. Presentation to SAVMA on Surgical Pathology techniques. Tucson, AZ.
• Dial, S. M. (2012). Technology in Teaching Veterinary Clinical Pathology Trainees. Education Forum at the annual ASVCP/ACVP conference. Seattle, WA: ASVCP/ACVP.
• Dial, S. M. (2011). Beyond the Numbers: What Automated Hematology Analyzers Can't Tell You. A two hour presentation on veterinary hematology and hematology analyzers given via internet video link (GoToMeeting). Tucson, AZ and Lexington, KY.
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  Internet/intranet
• Dial, S. M. (2011). Boot Camp: Clinical Pathology and Wellness Case Studies in Clinical Diagnostics. two day interactive continuing education program on developing and implementing a strong clinical diagnostic medical team and wellness program within the hospital. Malmo, Sweden.
• Dial, S. M. (2011). Boot Camp: Clinical Pathology and Wellness Case Studies in Clinical Diagnostics. two day interactive continuing education program on developing and implementing a strong clinical diagnostic medical team and wellness program within the hospital. Nyborg, Denmark.
• Dial, S. M. (2011). Zoonotic Diseases. Arizona Society of Histotechnology Region VII Symposium. Tucson, AZ: Arizona Society of Histotechnology.

Others

• Dial, S. M. (2010, Fall). AzVDL Education in Veterinary Clinical Pathology.