Preface xv
List of Contributors xvii
Acknowledgments xix
About the Companion Website xxi
Part I Necropsy Fundamentals 1
1 Introduction to the Necropsy 3
1.1 What Is a Necropsy? 3
1.2 Why Do a Necropsy? 3
1.3 What Information Can and Cannot Be Gained from a Necropsy 3
1.4 When to Refer a Necropsy 4
2 Necropsy Basics 6
2.1 Necropsy Facilities 6
2.2 Necropsy Equipment 6
2.3 Safety Considerations 10
2.4 The Importance of a Good History 12
2.5 The Necropsy Report 12
2.6 Postmortem Changes 14
Part II The Mammalian Necropsy 17
3 The Necropsy 19
3.1 Introduction 19
3.2 Small Animal Necropsy Technique 19
3.3 Modifications for Large Animals 32
3.4 Modifications for Pocket Pets 37
4 The Integumentary System 39
4.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 39
4.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 42
4.3 Special Techniques 46
4.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 47
4.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 48
5 The Musculoskeletal System 49
5.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 49
5.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 55
5.3 Special Techniques 56
5.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 58
5.5 Classic or Pathognomonic Lesions 58
6 The Cardiovascular System 60
6.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 60
6.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 66
6.3 Special Techniques 68
6.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 69
6.5 Common, Classic, or Pathognomonic Lesions 71
7 The Respiratory System 72
7.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 72
7.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 77
7.3 Special Techniques 79
7.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 80
7.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 81
8 The Alimentary System 82
8.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 82
8.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 88
8.3 Special Techniques 90
8.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 90
8.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 91
9 The Liver and Pancreas 93
9.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 93
9.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 97
9.3 Special Techniques 99
9.4 Common Artifacts and Postmortem Changes 99
9.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 100
10 The Urogenital System 101
10.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 101
10.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 108
10.3 Special Techniques 112
10.4 Common Artifacts and Postmortem Changes 113
10.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 114
11 The Nervous System 115
11.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 115
11.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 116
11.3 Special Techniques 121
11.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 121
11.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 123
12 The Eye and Ear 124
12.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 124
12.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 127
12.3 Special Techniques 129
12.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 131
12.5 Common, Classic, or Pathognomonic Lesions 131
13 The Endocrine System 132
13.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 132
13.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 135
13.3 Special Techniques 137
13.4 Common Artifacts and Postmortem Changes 137
13.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 137
14 The Lymphoreticular System 139
14.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 139
14.2 Organ Examination and Sampling 143
14.3 Special Techniques 147
14.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 147
14.5 Common, Classic, or Pathognomonic Lesions 148
Part III Nonmammalian Necropsies 149
15 Birds 151
15.1 Anatomy Review and Species Differences 151
15.2 Safety Considerations 159
15.3 Necropsy Procedure 159
15.4 Special Procedures 161
15.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 161
16 Reptiles 162
16.1 Anatomy Review and Order Differences 162
16.2 Safety Considerations 166
16.3 Necropsy Procedure 166
16.4 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 170
16.5 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 171
17 Amphibians 172
17.1 Anatomy Review and Order Differences 172
17.2 Larval Amphibian Anatomy 176
17.3 Safety Considerations 178
17.4 Necropsy Procedure for Adult Amphibians 178
17.5 Necropsy Procedure for Larval Amphibians 179
17.6 Fixation, Decalcification, and Trimming Considerations 179
17.7 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 180
17.8 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 180
18 Fish 181
18.1 Anatomy Review 181
18.2 Species Differences 182
18.3 Safety Considerations 183
18.4 Necropsy Procedure 184
18.5 Special Techniques 187
18.6 Common Artifacts, Incidental Findings, and Postmortem Changes 187
18.7 Common, Classic, and Pathognomonic Lesions 188
Part IV Additional Testing 189
19 Cytology 191
19.1 Types of Cytology Preparations 191
19.2 Making a Touch Imprint 191
19.3 Making a Bone Marrow Smear 191
19.4 Other Preparations 192
19.5 Staining 192
19.6 Atlas of Normal Tissues 193
20 Histopathology 196
20.1 Necropsy Samples for Histopathology 196
20.2 Fixation 196
20.3 Practical Guidelines to Optimize Fixation 199
21 Infectious Disease Testing 201
21.1 Test Types 201
21.2 Aerobic Culture 201
21.3 Anaerobic Culture 202
21.4 Fungal Culture 203
21.5 Fluorescent Antibody Tests 204
21.6 PCR 204
21.7 ELISA 204
21.8 Virus Isolation 204
21.9 Fecal Examination 205
21.10 Immunohistochemistry 205
21.11 In Situ Hybridization 205
22 Toxicology Testing 206
23 Packaging and Shipping Samples 210
23.1 Packing Samples to Send to the Lab 211
Part V Special Cases 213
24 Forensic Necropsies 215
24.1 What Is a Forensic Necropsy? 215
24.2 Who Should Perform a Forensic Necropsy? 215
24.3 How Is a Forensic Necropsy Different from a Diagnostic Necropsy? 215
24.4 Before the Necropsy 216
24.5 The Forensic Necropsy Procedure 217
24.6 Forensic Necropsy Report 219
Part VI Appendices 221
Appendix 1 Normal Organ Weights (Percentage Body Weight) 223
Appendix 2 Describing Gross Lesions 233
Appendix 3 Tissue Collection Checklists 235
Appendix 4 Online Resources 237
Index 239
