Areas to avoid for necropsy (4)
● Areas accessible to animals/people
● Areas that may contain food
● High traffic areas
● Areas difficult to disinfect
Good area for necropsy (3)
● Concrete
● Dirt area in the sun (natural
disinfectant)
● Tarped area
Disposal options post necropsy (5)
b. Disposal options
i. Burial (must be deep enough!)
ii. Rendering
iii. Transport to a disposal site
iv. Incineration
v. Composting
All specimens should be handled and treated as if they are zoonotic. What are Routes of exposure to pathogens during a PM? (4)
i. Oral → wear masks
ii. Splash into eye → use eye protection
iii. Aerosolization
iv. Percutaneous (sharps injury)
External examination look at what?
Exam the skin, wounds, ectoparasites, feet (pads, claws, hooves). Exam eyes, ears, nose, and oral cavity (hemorrhage, blisters, exudate)
Carcass position:
Cows lie on what side? Why?
Horses?
Others?
Cows (ruminants)left because of rumen
Horses (equine) right because of cecum
Others doesn’t matter
Body cavity order (ATC) define
Abdomen
Thorax (confirm for negative pressure in the chest)
a. Remove the Pluck = heart, lungs, trachea, esophagus &
tongue
i. Reflect the tongue and larynx ventrally (to the side)
Cranium
Collection of microbiological samples should be done?
First!
Collected aseptically
Intestines are sampled last
Remove and dissect organs
Solids organs slide like what?
Incise organs with a what?
Open all chambers and valves of the heart by what ratio?
Brain?
Ingesta?
i. Solid organs → “Breadloaf” slice
ii. Organs with capsules need to be incised (ex: kidneys)
iii. Heart → open all chambers and valves
1. Should be 3:1 ratio between left and right ventricle
iv. Brain → always should be removed
1. 2 cuts on either side of foramen magnum & extend
2. 1 cut across the orbit
v. Ingesta → check for foreign material, toxic plants, feed quality, etc.
Formalin collection ratio should be?
10:1 ratio of formalin : tissue
a. Formalin will not penetrate more than 1⁄2 cm of tissue
b. Samples should be no more than 1cm thick
c. Animals <100g may be opened and fixed whole
Toxicology samples should be stored in what?
Parasitology: external parasites should be preserved in what?
Ethanol
Cavitary effusions, culture store in what?
Explain how to properly finish a PM
Explain how to properly finish a PM.
a. Clean and disinfect work surfaces
b. Decontaminate self
c. Record necropsy findings
d. Package the samples
i. Do NOT freeze formalin
ii. Add padding and avoid glass if possible
e. Shipping the samples
i. Ship in leak-proof, crush-proof, well-labeled containers
Define autolysis
Define Putrefaction
Process when post mortem bacteria breaks down tissues
2. Gives color, texture changes, gas production, odors
Rate of decomposition depends on what (3)
i. Cause of death
ii. Environmental and body temperature (Refrigerate prolong PM)
iii. Microbial flora
c. Examples
i. Rumen mucosa sloughing
ii. Pulpy kidneys
1. Accelerated renal autolysis associated with Clostridium perfringens type D septicemia (happens post mortem)
What is Rigor mortis?
What is Algor mortis
What is Livor mortis?
What is post-mortem blood clotting?
What is Antemortem clot
Attached to vessel walls
● Dull and dry
● Laminated
● Friable
What is postmortem clot
● Unattached
● Shiny and wet
● Elastic
● Fills the lumen of a vessel
What is hemoglobin imbibition?