72475 - Diagnostic Laboratory In Wild Species

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will have acquired basic knowledge about etiopathogenesis and pathological anatomy of the most frequent diseases of wild species, as well as notions concerning the sampling methods for histopathological examination. The student is taught how to perform necropsies of wild animals. In particular, the student becomes acquainted with the recognition of macroscopic alterations of organs and the collection of specimens for histopathological examination.

Course contents

Necropsy: signaling/hystory, abiotic and consecutives (algor mortis, livor mortis, rigor mortis) and transformative cadaverous phenomena, cadaverous entomofauna, time of death estimate, position of the animal for necropsy, instruments for necropsy. External examination and elementary skin lesions, wounds, dermatitis, neoplasms). Exam of the mucous membrane (malformations, teeth anomalies, anemia, icterus, inflammation). Skinning and subcutaneous tissue examination (hyperemia, hemorrhage, icterus, oedema, emphysema, inflammation, parassites, neoplasms). Exams of the muscles (atrophy, hypertrophy, hemorrhage, necrosis (nutritional, capture), purulent and parasitic myositis) and joints (arthritis). Tecnique of thoracic and abdominal cavities aperture (topography of the organs and pathologic contents). Extraction of the organs. Main gross changes in liver (rupture, passive congestion, steatosis, amyloidosis, necrosis, hepatitis), kidney (hydronephrosis, infarct, nephrosis, non purulent (glomerulonephritis, interstitial), purulent and granulomatous nephritis), heart (pericardial collections, miocardiosis, myocarditis, endocarditis), lung (traumatic lesion, atelectasia, emphysema, edema, bronchopneumonia, fibrinous, interstitial, granulomatous, parasitic pneumonias), stomach/prestomaches and intestine (inflammation), spleen and lymph nodes (hyperplasia, inflammation).

Readings/Bibliography

• Marcato P.S.: Patologia Sistematica Veterinaria. Il Sole 24 Ore-Edagricole, Bologna, 2002.
• Munson L. Necropsy of Wild Animals. http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/pdfs/necropsy.pdf
• Taccini E., Rossi G., Gili C. (2006) Tecnica Autoptica e Diagnostica Cadaverica. Poletto Editore, Milano, Italia.
• Wobeser G.A. (2006) Essentials of Disease in Wild Animals. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Oxford, UK.

Teaching methods

The course includes 18 hours of theoretical lessons and 12 hours of practical and supervised work. The latter encompasses the necropsy techniques and the exam of isolate organs bearing lesions presented in the theoretical lessons.

Assessment methods

The examination consists of a practical test and an oral test. The two tests are taken at the same time, usually on the same day. Given the close integration of all three tests they cannot be taken separately.

The aim of the practical test is to ascertain the student's ability to recognize the tanatologic indications and if he/she has proper abilities to perform a necropsy.  

The aim of the oral test is to ascertain the student's ability to apply his/her body of knowledge with the necessary logico-deductive skills. The oral test is usually based on the lesion observed in the practical test. Special attention is paid to the student's ability to undertake transverse reasoning and to link the course information with the information acquired from courses attended in previous years.

The registration to the exam is possible only by AlmaEsami.

The course is part of the integrated course Diagnostics in wild species, which also includes the teaching of Biochemical and pharmaco-toxicological diagnostics. The final mark consists of the synthesis of evaluations of both courses included in the integrated course. Of the examination committee are part of the professors in charge of the teachings included in the integrated course.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC

Office hours

See the website of Barbara Brunetti

See the website of Silvia Piva