Necropsy Procedures-
Introduction & general
considerations
What is Necropsy..??
• Necropsy may be defined as “the systematic examination of an animal
carcass which is aimed to search for abnormal anatomical changes
(lesions) in the tissues”.
• Generally used to determine the cause of death.
• Involves direct visualization of the diseases organs (Gross Pathology)
• Microscopic examination of cells, tissues (Histopathology)
• Study the course of disease in individual animal, can be applied for
therapeutic measures applied on other individuals of the flock.
• Proper knowledge about anatomy and histology is necessary for obtaining
maximum benefits from necropsy.
General Principles
• Time for necropsy - Best time is immediately after death. Autolysis starts
at rapid rate leading to changes in organs and tissues.
• If delayed, cooling of carcass in freezer, If received during late hours of the
day, open GIT examine and take specimen immediately, other parts may
be saved in freezer for later examination.
• Collection of tissues/organs in 10% formaline for histopathology
• Collection of sample for bacteriology-
Basic Equipments of Necropsy
• One or more sharp boning knives
• Scalpel with blades
• One or more pairs of scissors
• One or more pairs of forceps
• A ruler and tape measure
• A plastic cutting board
• Manual hacksaw or Stryker saw
• Plastic or metal containers for viscera holding
• Protective Clothing- Gloves, Rubber boots, Face mask, Plastic apron
Basic Equipments of Necropsy
Protective clothing
Submission Form
• Clinic Identification- Clinic name, Phone Number, Doctor Name
• Owner’s Identification- Owner’s name, Address, ph #, Occupation
• Animal Identification- Animal Name, Age, Sex, Breed, Wt.
• Clinical History- Brief history of disease including clinical findings, sign,
symptoms and presumptive diagnosis.
• Necropsy Findings- includes the results of the necropsy examination that
may be arranged by organs/system or by the sequence of examination.
• Results of Laboratory Examination - includes the samples collected during
necropsy and the results of the examination done.
• Diagnosis - the outcome of the examination.
• Examiner's Information - includes the name, qualifications and signature
of the one who did the examination and formulated the diagnosis.
Preparation Of the Report
• Describing Lesions-
• A. Solid organs:
• 1) Organs/tissue involved
• 2) Distribution or location (bilateral, unilateral, diffuse, focal,
multiple ,patchy)
• 3) Size and shape (bulging, ulcerated, rough, smooth, eroded, pitted)
• 4) Weight
• 5) Color (Black, brown, grey-green, red, tan, white, off-white, yellow)
• 6) Appearance
• 7) Consistency (Hard, firm, soft, spongy, rubbery, viscous, friable)
• 8) Texture or intact and cut surface (irregular, circular, ovoid, wedge
shaped, papillary)
• 9) Odor
Preparation Of the Report
• B. Hollow Organs:
• 1) Organs involved
• 2) Appearance
• 3) Texture of intact and opened surfaces
• 4) Contents, which should be qualified as to:
• a) Nature
• b) Volume/Amount
• c) Consistency
• d) Transparency
• e) Colour
• f) Odour
FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATION
• SPECIMEN SUBMISSION
Specimen sent along with information about
• 1) The species identification
• 2) The details of clinical history
• 3) The relevant necropsy findings
• 4) Nature of the sample collected and the mode employed in the collection and
• preservation
• 5) The form or type of examination that is requested
Procedure of necropsy
• The procedures for the routine necropsy examination of dead
carcass can be conveniently divided into three major stages:
• 1) Dissection stage - consist of preliminary incisions to expose
the various organs and body cavities for the examination.
• 2) Display stage - the stage where all organs are exposed but
remained on their original position and relations.
• 3) Examination stage - the part of necropsy where specific
organs and organ systems are systematically examined one
after another.
SPECIAL TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE
SPECIFIC POST MORTEM CHANGES
• Rigor mortis- contraction and stiffening of muscles after death.
• Rigor mortis begins from 1-6 hours after death and passes off in 24-48
hours.
• Factors that influence the onset of Rigor mortis
• a) Nutritional status of the animal
• b) Environmental and body temperature of the cadaver
• c) Cause of death
• Algor mortis - Gradual cooling of the animal body after death, and is
associated with a fall in ATP.
• Livor mortis (Hypostatic congestion)- The settling of blood to the down
side of the animal body. Gravitational force causes this to happen
SPECIAL TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE SPECIFIC
POST MORTEM CHANGES
• Hemoglobin imbibition - Pinkish to reddish coloration imparted to tissues
due to the lysis of red blood cells. This is most evident on the surfaces of
large arteries and in outer surfaces of visceral organs.
• Bile imbibition - Golden yellow coloration imparted on tissues following
seepage of bile. Discoloration is most evident on the surfaces of organs in
contact with the gall bladder, and on duodenal mucosa.
• Pseudomelanosis - Greenish gray to dark coloration of tissues. This is due
the action of bacteria to hemoglobin forming hydrogen sulphide.
Pseudomelanosis suggests a more advanced stage of post mortem
degradation of tissues.
• Chicken Fat Clot - An old term referring to the gelatinous mass formed by
separation and coagulation of plasma proteins from the component of
blood. This is usually seen inside the major blood vessels and the heart.
Livor mortis & Peudo-melanosis
Hemoglobin Imbibition
FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease)
The vesicles on the tongue of this Extensive ulceration in a cow approximately 7–10
animal have ruptured, leaving days after foot and mouth disease first appeared.
shallow ulceration with shreds of
mucosa at the periphery.
Vesicles present at the coronary band Vesicles present along the interdigital space
that have become secondarily infected
