Transcript Necropsy: Facilities

LIVE IN THIS MOMENT
“You had better live your best and act your
best and think your best today; for today is
the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the
other tomorrows that follow.”
-Harriet Martineau
Necropsy-examination of an
animal after it has died
Necropsy: Fun at the Beach
Terms
Pathology—study of disease
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Gross pathology—pathologic changes seen with
naked eye
Histopathology—clinical changes seen with a
microscope
Lesions—pathologic changes
Pathogenesis—the sequence of events of the
disease (dog was bitten → bacteria entered
wound → elevated temperature → pus formed
→ etc)
Reasons for Necropsy
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Determine cause of death
Determine accuracy of clinical diagnosis
Evaluate effects of therapy
In herds, 1 or more animals may be
sacrificed to determine the cause of disease
or toxicity
– Routine in pharmaceutical studies
Preliminary Steps for Necropsy
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Obtain owners permission; also determine if
owner wants remains for burial, etc
Correctly identify animal (species, breed, sex,
age, ID tags or tattoos)
Perform necropsy ASAP after death; if delayed,
refrigerate animal to delay autolysis; DON’T
FREEZE
Necropsy Report
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Location
Number of lesions
Color of abnormalities (dark red, black, etc)
Size of lesions (cm or weight)
Shape of lesion (round, flat, oval)
Distribution
Consistency (hard, soft, firm)
Odor (sweet, sour, ammonia)
Final Report tense should be consistent
Report should be as specific as possible without
giving a final diagnosis unless a test for the Dx
was performed (i.e. rabies)
Necropsy: Facilities
Necropsy facility: overhead hoist
Necropsy: Protective Clothing
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Plastic apron, lab
coat, scrubs
latex or plastic
disposable gloves
surgical mask if
animal died from
infectious disease
spread by
aerosolization
protective footwear
Necropsy: Tools
Knives
 Scissors
 Tissue forceps
 Bone-cutting tools (pruning shears,
hacksaw)
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Sample Collection
Contact diagnostic lab for directions on
collection, preservation and shipping of specific
samples
 Possible microbiology samples-sterile containers
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No preservative
Do not freeze
Primary disease site
Heart, blood, lung, liver, spleen stomach contents,
aborted fetuses, placenta, exudates
– Tissue samples – 1x2x3 cm
– Fluid samples – 3-5 mls
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Virus samples – call lab
Fixatives
Stops autolysis
 Saves tissues for histopathology
 10% buffered formalin (carcinogen)
 Sample thickness - 1 cm or less
 Ratio of fixative to sample = 10 to 1
 Contact irritant and carcinogen
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– Use gloves: keep containers closed, handle in
ventilated hoods
Toxicology Samples
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blood (10-20 ml)
stomach contents and
urine (50-100 ml)
blocks of liver, fat,
kidney, and brain
(5x5x10 cm; approx
200 g)
Samples
Examine Exterior
Horse necropsy: remove foreleg
Horse necropsy: remove rib cage
Horse necropsy: internal organs
Horse necropsy: remove intestine
Horse necropsy: lungs and heart
Horse necropsy: heart
Horse necropsy: head
Necropsy Videos
http://video.vet.cornell.edu/virtualvet/bovin
e/chapters1-4.html
Esophagus
Normal
Food
Ulcerations
Larynx
normal
necrosis
ulceration
Trachea
normal
necrosis
ulceration
Pericardial sac
Click on picture to view video
Lungs
Normal
Normal lung tissue
-pink
-spongy
Lung abscess
-liquid/“cottage cheese” like
appearance
Bronchopheumonia
Airways and vessels
Lung artery
Lung airway
Normal lung tissue
Lung lesions
Emphysema
-pops like bubble-wrap
Lung adhesions
to ribs
Consolidation
-heavy; solid (no air)
Pneumonia- darker lesions
are more severe
Lung worms
Abscesses
Heart: R ventricle
Heart: R side opened
Heart: L side
Heart Lesions
Septal defects—connection
between R and L sides
Necrotic lesions
Valve lesions
Liver lesions
Liver abscesses
Liver flukes
Fatty liver
Fractured liver—due to blunt trauma; (knife cuts smooth)
Clean up