Field necropsy

Question 1

In what order should you collect samples from animals when you arrive on a farm?

Answer 1

collect LIVE animals first, then sick.

Question 2

what does PPE include AT MINIMUM?

Answer 2

gloves, rubber boots, and coveralls

Question 3

When should you collect blood from animals in the euthanasia process?

Answer 3

BEFORE euthanizing.

Question 4

T/F: you should collect “dirty” samples first, followed by sterile samples.

Answer 4

false – sterile samples (ie lung or liver) first in order to get an accurate culture of what may have caused the death.

Question 5

How do you handle solid organs versus tubular organs during necropsy?

Answer 5

solid – bread loaf
tubular – open them up and get poop/contents out

Question 6

You can take large chunks of FRESH tissue, but formalin-fixed tissue should be no bigger than _____ thick.

Answer 6

3-6 cm

this is because formalin can only penetrate 1 cm of tissue within a 24 hr period. You do not want autolysis of the center of your tissue sample.

Question 7

If you have a beef cattle producer with >5% abortion rate in 2nd trimester over 3 weeks. What samples should you take for necropsy?

Answer 7

placenta, fetus, liver, kidney, lung, heart, spleen, and brain.

Question 8

If you have a beef cattle producer with >5% abortion rate in 2nd trimester over 3 weeks. What tests should you request from the lab?

Answer 8

abortion screen (toxicology, bacteriology, histopath, etc.)

Question 9

Calves have droopy ears, dull eyes, fever of 104, and some are coughing. Two of these calves die. What samples will you ensure to take?

Answer 9

lungs for BRDC and shipping fever concerns.

Question 10

Calves have droopy ears, dull eyes, fever of 104, and some are coughing. You treated them, but then 2 calves die and none of the others improve. What tests will you request from the lab?

Answer 10

bacteriology
antimicrobial susceptibility test (bc they seem to be treatment resistant)
+/- virology

Question 11

If animals appear to have systemic disease causing death, what samples should you take?

Answer 11

complete necropsy!

Question 12

why is laboratory accreditation important?

Answer 12

You can trust the results
All of the techs are specifically trained
SOAPS in place to investigate unusual results
Tests are validated
Outside entity comes in and looks at tests to determine validity for accreditation

Question 13

Shipping biological samples is regulated by IATA. All veterinary diagnostic samples are considered infectious substances category ___, and MUST have a UN3373 label.

Answer 13

category B which means biological specimen not known to contain pathogen infectious to humans.

Question 14

IATA regulations require that packages be…

Answer 14

triple packaged and leak proof

Question 15

__________ is an infected animal that is having/showing symptoms.

Answer 15

clinical disease

Question 16

___________ is defined as an infected animal with no clinical signs, but you can find evidence of infection at necropsy or histologically. These are shedders.

Answer 16

subclinical disease

Question 17

_______ is an infected animal with no disease.

Answer 17

infection

Question 18

T/F: you should always take a set of formalin fixed tissues.

Answer 18

true

Question 19

What type of tissue samples do you need for microbiology and toxicology – fresh or formalin fixed?

Answer 19

fresh
and these samples must be on ice.

Question 20

T/F: formalin-fixed tissues and swabs should be placed on ice for sample submission.

Answer 20

false – room temp. cold formalin will slow the fixation process.