Diagnostics and Therapeutics

Question 1

What does diagnosis mean?

Answer 1

The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem.

Question 2

When are diagnostic techniques used?

Answer 2

To ID disease in patients showing signs of potential illness
To direct treatment plans
Used as a part of survallience protocols to track success of preventative medicine.

Question 3

What do you need to know in order to perform a diagnostic technique?

Answer 3

What sample to collect and how
What test to perform and how
How to interpret the results

Question 4

How long does alcohol need to be on the skin to disinfect?

Answer 4

30 - 2mins

Question 5

What is the best way to start blood collection?

Answer 5

Alcohol to wet down hair and disinfect, start distally and move proximally. Blood can be collected retrograde (against flow) or antegrade (with flow)

Question 6

What is the maximum amount of blood that can be collected from a smaller animal?

Answer 6

No more than 1% of the animals body weight in grams = 10% blood volume

Question 7

What is something found in reptile and fish samples?

Answer 7

It can be contaminated with lymphatic fluid

Question 8

Most bird and reptile samples are tested via what?

Answer 8

Plasma

Question 9

What is a clot in a sample?

Answer 9

A conglomerate of cells, platelets, and clotting factors. Blood will clot shortly after collection

Question 10

What is serum?

Answer 10

In a clotted sample, the fluid that remains that does NOT contain any cells, platelets, or clotting factors.

Question 11

What does a cell count blood test require?

Answer 11

Whole blood, must be placed in a tube with anti coagulation.

Question 12

How are biochemistry an stereology test performed?

Answer 12

On serum and plasma

Question 13

How does plasma compare to serum?

Answer 13

Like serum, plasma has no cells or platelets, but DOES have all clotting factors present in whole blood. Blood is centrifuged to yield plasma.

Question 14

Where can blood be obtained from in Mammal?

Answer 14

From the cephalic vein, saphenous vein, or jugular.

Question 15

In bovine species, big cats etc, what is another possible option for a blood draw?

Answer 15

Coccygeal vein (tail)

Question 16

Can the cranial vena cava vein be used for blood sampling?

Answer 16

Yes, if the patient is under general anathesia

Question 17

What may be the preferred site for blood draws in primates?

Answer 17

Tibial an cephalic vein

Question 18

Which veins are found on the foreleg?

Answer 18

Cephalic and median cubital

Question 19

Which vein is found under the wing?

Answer 19

Cranial ulnar vein. It’s found near the radius and ulna on the wing. Hematoma formation is common.

Question 20

Which veins are found on the hindlimb?

Answer 20

The lateral and medial saphenous vein
Medial metatarsal vein - Birds
Posterior tibial vein - Primates

Question 21

When is the femoral vein commonly used and how do you find it?

Answer 21

Commonly used in patients under anesthesia. Look for the depressed triangle in the upper thigh called the femoral triangle.

Question 22

Where is the auricular vein located?

Answer 22

The ear

Question 23

Which veins are found in the tail?

Answer 23

The ventral coccygeal vein. Can be used in reptiles, bovine species and prehensile tail mammals.
The dorsal coccygeal vein - turtles and penguins. Located at the dorsal aspect of the distal tail

Question 24

Where is the brachial venous plexus located and who do we use it for?

Answer 24

Used on turtles, located in the front leg right above the tendon of the main point. Insert the needle right about the joint and aim at the joint.

Question 25

Where is the subcarapacial venous sinus located and how do you draw from it?

Answer 25

Used on turtles. Insert the needle where the skin joins the marginal scutes on the ventral aspect of the carapace and aim straight towards the top of the shell

Question 26

How do you hit the transverse facial venous sinus?

Answer 26

Insert needle approx. 2cm below the facial crest in a triangle created by the medial and lateral canthus of the eye.

Question 27

Where is venipuncture performed in birds?

Answer 27

Right jugular vein which is considerably larger than the left. Other options are the medial metatarsal vein and ulnar vein.

Question 28

Where is venipuncture performed in crocodilians?

Answer 28

Tail vein (lateral or ventral approach)
Supraverteberal vein
Lateral occipital sinus

Question 29

Where is venipuncture performed in chelonians?

Answer 29

Jugular
Ventral coccygeal vein
dorsal carapacial sinus ( watch out for the spinal cord)

Question 30

CHECK SLIDES FOR LIZARDS SNAKES AND AMPHIBIANS

Question 31

Are cardiac sticks common?

Answer 31

Not in live animals. Generally used in poultry and reptiles

Question 32

What is serology?

Answer 32

Measurements of antibody in blood, indicates exposure to infectious agent but does NOT necessarily indicate an active infection.

Question 33

What is an antigen?

Answer 33

Proteins found on the surface of infectious agents such as parasites, viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Question 34

Is serology helpful with vaccination protocols?

Answer 34

Yes, it can tell us if the patient has mounted an immune response against the infectious agent

Question 35

What are antibodies?

Answer 35

Proteins produced by the immune system that allow WBCs to recognize foreign antigens