Necropsies Flashcards
What is a necropsy?
A postmortem examination of an animal to determine the cause of death
How do you prepare for a necropsy?
- Go over any pathology and patient notes
- Make sure you have proper PPE
- Have a plan
Never go into a necropsy blind
How is body condition is assessed?
Muscle and fat status as well as overall health status of the animal is assessed
Can use body condition score (BCS) to determine and describe (what is wrong with this parameter?)
What are some indicators of body condition / health
- Firmness of the carapace / plastron
- Integrity of the skin
Atrophy
Due to lack of use of the muscle / malnutrition
Pallor
Paleness of muscle, could be due to bleeding out
What does healthy fat in green sea turtles look like?
Yellow / green
Should NOT feel squishy
Is “perfectly healthy” fat commonly seen in turtles?
No, it is rare
What does unhealthy fat look like in sea turtles?
Turns black / becomes less firm
Fat goes necrotic very quickly
What is the coelomic lining?
- Line the coelomic cavity
- Lining should be thin and papery
- Fluid should be clear in coloration and watery in viscosity
What is the purpose of the fluid of the coelomic lining?
Fluid allows for free movement/growth and cushioning of organs
What are some abnormalities that can occur in the coelomic lining?
- Edema (too much fluid build up) - could lead to trauma/organ failure
- Parasites
- Blood tinged - from bleeding out
- Bile tinged
- Cloudy material free floating in the cavity
Describe the cardiovascular system in sea turtles
- Heart is encapsulated in a fluid filled pericardial sac
- 3 chambered hearts
- Lots of variation in color (not indicative of heart health)
Why are firing synapses they important in sea turtle necropsies?
- Reptiles’ synapses can fire for a long time after death
- This is reflexive and does not indicate that the animal is alive
- There are some people who will wait until the synapses have stopped firing (no detectable heartbeat) before conducting a necropsy
What are the pros of waiting until there is no detectable heartbeat before conducting a necropsy?
- No chance of synapses firing during the necropsy
- Some people believe that the animal is not dead until the synapses stop firing
What are the cons of waiting until there is no detectable heartbeat before conducting a necropsy?
- Decomposition sets in very quickly
- Organs that breakdown the faster = fat, liver, gonads, fluids
- If you want to send out pathology the samples must be fresh
What is the main function of the liver in sea turtles?
- Filtration of the blood
- Breaks down nutrients so the body can metabolize them
- Protein synthesis
- Production of bile
What are some variations in liver tissue?
- Pallor
- Darkening - indicative of post mortem congestion/pooling of blood in organs
- Lesions - indicative of infection
- Atrophy - due to chronic anorexia
- Blackening (different from darkening)
What are the 3 parts of the gastrointestinal tract?
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Intestines
Describe the Esophagus of sea turtles
- Papillae line the esophagus
- Papillae guide food down the digestive tract
- Often contains food particles and other debris
What is the duodenum and where is it located?
- The duodenum prevents food from going into the intestines prematurely
- Located in the stomach
What are some abnormalities that can occur in the stomach?
- Parasites
- Ulceration
- Discoloration - indicative of post mortem congestion
What are some abnormalities that can occur in the intestine?
- Ulceration
- Impaction (something gets stuck in the intestine)
- Bile staining
- Plication (intestines = pulled tight/cannot stretch anymore)
- Thickening of the intestinal wall (associated with trauma)
What is the mesentery?
- Attaches the intestines ti the body wall
- Vascularized allowing for vascular and lymphatic systems to supply intestines
