Difference between revisions of "Snake Necropsy"
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| − | + | [[Image:Organ_position_+labels.jpg|250px|thumb|right|'''Organ positions''' © RVC]] | |
| − | __TOC__ | + | __TOC__ |
==External examination== | ==External examination== | ||
# Measure and weigh the snake and examine the external features. | # Measure and weigh the snake and examine the external features. | ||
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Image:Amazonian_tree_boa.jpg|'''External examination''' <br> © RVC | Image:Amazonian_tree_boa.jpg|'''External examination''' <br> © RVC | ||
Image:Organ_position_+labels.jpg|'''Organ positions'''<br> © RVC | Image:Organ_position_+labels.jpg|'''Organ positions'''<br> © RVC | ||
| − | Image:Bumese_python_liver_+_seosa-sheath_+_fat_tissue.jpg|'''Liver, | + | Image:Bumese_python_liver_+_seosa-sheath_+_fat_tissue.jpg|'''Liver, serosa and fat tissue''' <br> © RVC |
Image:Burmese_python_heart_in_situ.jpg|'''Heart''' <br> © RVC | Image:Burmese_python_heart_in_situ.jpg|'''Heart''' <br> © RVC | ||
Image:Boa_constrictor_liver_+_lung_in_situ.jpg|'''Liver and lung''' <br> © RVC | Image:Boa_constrictor_liver_+_lung_in_situ.jpg|'''Liver and lung''' <br> © RVC | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
Image:Boa_constrictor_gall_bladder_pancreas_ovarium_in_situ.jpg|'''Gall bladder, pancreas and ovarium''' <br> © RVC | Image:Boa_constrictor_gall_bladder_pancreas_ovarium_in_situ.jpg|'''Gall bladder, pancreas and ovarium''' <br> © RVC | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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| + | {{Learning | ||
| + | |literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=((((title:(post+mortem)+OR+subject:(post+mortem)))+OR+((+subject:(pathology)))+OR+((title:(necropsy)+OR+subject:(necropsy)))))+AND+((title:(snake)+OR+ab:(snake)+OR+od:(snakes)))+NOT+od:(horses) Snake Necropsy publications] | ||
| + | |full text = [http://www.cabi.org/cabdirect/FullTextPDF/2010/20103181631.pdf '''Reptile pathology: getting the most out of pathology.''' St. Leger, J.; The North American Veterinary Conference, Gainesville, USA, Small animal and exotics. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando, Florida, USA, 16-20 January 2010, 2010, pp 1714-1716, 5 ref.] | ||
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| + | [http://www.cabi.org/cabdirect/FullTextPDF/2005/20053197440.pdf '''The reptile necropsy: collection and submission of pathologic samples.''' Garner, M. M.; Eastern States Veterinary Association, Gainesville, USA, Small animal and exotics. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Volume 19, Orlando, Florida, USA, 8-12 January, 2005, 2005, pp 1275-1277] | ||
| + | }} | ||
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| + | {{review}} | ||
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[[Category:Snake_Diagnostics]] | [[Category:Snake_Diagnostics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:07, 20 August 2012
External examination
- Measure and weigh the snake and examine the external features.
- Check the skin for bite wounds, bruising, bleeding, ulcerations, burns, swellings, scars, retained shed and ectoparasites.
- Examine the nares, spectacles, eyes, oral cavity and cloaca.
- Assess the musculoskeletal system for body condition and palpate for pathology of the vertebra.
Internal examination
- Open the coelomic cavity. Split the fat body in the median line to expose the organs. Check for fluid.
- Examine all organs in a systematic manner - liver, gall bladder, spleen, pancreas, heart, large vessels, thyroid, lung, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, kidneys, gonads, adrenal glands and eventually the brain.
- Open trachea, lungs, heart, oesophagus, stomach and the intestinal tract, and section other organs as necessary.
- Take swabs as appropriate including heart blood, liver, spleen and kidney.
- Take sterile smear of heart blood for staining.
- Put liver, lung, kidney, spleen and intestine in both formal saline (transfer to 70% ethanol after 48 hours) and frozen in sterile container.
- Make impression smears of different parts of intestines.
- Take a sterile sample of any abnormal gut contents, make a smear in saline.
- Wash the gut contents out in saline, examine for signs of parasites.
- Inspect the gonads to sex definitively
Picture gallery
External examination
© RVC
Organ positions
© RVC
Liver, serosa and fat tissue
© RVC
Heart
© RVC
Liver and lung
© RVC
Gall bladder, pancreas and ovarium
© RVC
| Snake Necropsy Learning Resources | |
|---|---|
 Search for recent publications via CAB Abstract (CABI log in required) |
Snake Necropsy publications |
Full text articles available from CAB Abstract (CABI log in required) |
Reptile pathology: getting the most out of pathology. St. Leger, J.; The North American Veterinary Conference, Gainesville, USA, Small animal and exotics. Proceedings of the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando, Florida, USA, 16-20 January 2010, 2010, pp 1714-1716, 5 ref. |
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