Changes

*''Tissue for virus isolation'' - For viral isolation, place tissue sections in individual sterile bags and freeze.

*''Tissue for virus isolation'' - For viral isolation, place tissue sections in individual sterile bags and freeze.

===Bone marrow from snakes===

===Bone marrow from snakes===

Bone marrow from snakes is difficult but not impossible to obtain from snakes. The bone marrow cavity of the ribs of large snakes will yield a sample. The area around the dorsal fourth of a rib is aseptically prepared. The skin is incised and the cortical bone of the rib is drilled through with a 21- to 23-gauge spinal needle. The needle is then advanced a few millimetres to the marrow cavity. For smaller species, surgical removal of a portion of a rib or vertebral spinous process is possible. It is fixed in formal saline and placed in a decalcifying solution until soft enough to allow histological processing. It is also possible to obtain marrow from the ventral vertebral bodies by biopsy.

Bone marrow from snakes is difficult but not impossible to obtain. The bone marrow cavity of the ribs of large snakes will yield a sample. The area around the dorsal fourth of a rib is aseptically prepared. The skin is incised and the cortical bone of the rib is drilled through with a 21- to 23-gauge spinal needle. The needle is then advanced a few millimetres to the marrow cavity. For smaller species, surgical removal of a portion of a rib or vertebral spinous process is possible. It is fixed in formal saline and placed in a decalcifying solution until soft enough to allow histological processing. It is also possible to obtain marrow from the ventral vertebral bodies by biopsy.

 

==Swab==

==Swab==

Culture sites should be vigorously sampled. Culture blood if septicaemia is suspected. Swabs for bacteriology should immediately go into transport media if there is any delay in culturing. It is preferable to incubate at 25°C and 37°C. It is advisable to take a second swab and roll this onto a microscope slide for gram staining. Culturing of fluid within the oral cavity usually gives non-diagnostic results. Preferable methods, as appropriate, are biopsy of oral lesions, sampling high within the choanal slit or tracheal sampling (by passing a microswab through the glottis).

Culture sites should be vigorously sampled. Culture blood if septicaemia is suspected. Swabs for bacteriology should immediately go into transport media if there is any delay in culturing. It is preferable to incubate at 25°C and 37°C. It is advisable to take a second swab and roll this onto a microscope slide for gram staining. Culturing of fluid within the oral cavity usually gives non-diagnostic results. Preferable methods, as appropriate, are biopsy of oral lesions, sampling high within the choanal slit or tracheal sampling (by passing a microswab through the glottis).