Palm Cockatoo SSP Necropsy and Histopathology Techniques/Recommendations

Appendix 15

Palm Cockatoo SSP Necropsy and Histopathology Techniques/Recommendations

Developed by John Olsen, DVM, Palm Cockatoo SSP Veterinary Advisor

and Chris Schiller, DVM, Palm Cockatoo SSP Veterinary Pathology Advisor

and approved by the Palm Cockatoo SSP Management Group

These guidelines are designed to enable veterinarians to perform thorough gross necropsies on palm cockatoos. A necropsy protocol, including a gross necropsy worksheet, is included.

SSP Pathologist:

Dr. Chris A Schiller

All creatures Pathology Service

c/o Antech Diagnostics

13533 North Cave Creek Road

Phoenix, AZ 85022

1-800-592-0503

1-602-996-6644

OPTIONS:

Send tissues to own institution’s pathologist and send copy of final necropsy report to Dr. Schiller, (include copies of histopathology slides if possible).
Send tissues to Dr. Schiller along with copy of gross necropsy report.
Send entire bird to Dr. Schiller along with copy of clinical history. (PLEASE call Dr. Schiller prior to sending bird).

Dr. Schiller is also available to answer any questions if necessary.

SAMPLES:

DUPLICATE sets of formalized tissue. One set to pathologist and one set for tissue banking. (Tissues to be sampled are listed on next page).
Antemortem (Postmortem if necessary) serum and plasma stored frozen at -70° C.
Fresh, frozen tissue. Store at least 10 grams (if possible) of liver, brain, kedney, and lung in separate plastic bags at -70° C.

Formalized tissues reserved for banking, frozen tissues and frozen serum and plasma may be stored by the institution or sent to the SSP Veterinary Advisor at the following address:

Dr. John H. Olsen

Busch Gardens Zoo Department

3605 Bougainvillea Avenue

Tampa, FL 33612

1-813-987-5546 phone

1-813-987-5548 fax

FORMALIZED TISSUE COLLECTION

Sections of tissues should be no more than 1 cm in width and should be placed in 10% buffered formailin at a ratio of one part tissue to ten parts formalin.

TISSUES TO BE SAMPLED (including an lesions or abnormalities within these or other organs):

Skin with feather.
Skeletal muscle - longitudinal section of thigh and pectoral muscle.
Bone/bone marrow - femur.
Peripheral (Sciatic) nerve.
Thymus.
Thyroids and parathyroids.
Frontal sinus - cross section obtained with strong scissors.
Trachea and syrinx.
Lungs - section from each lung including major bronchus.
Air sacs.
Heart-sections including atrium, ventricle and valves from right and left heart.
Tongue - cross section.
Esophagus - 3 cm in length, opened longitudinally.
Crop - 3 cm in length, opened longitudinally.
Proventriculus - 3 cm long sections.
Ventriculus - 3 cm long sections.
Small intestine - multiple sections, each 3 cm in length, opened longitudinally.
Ceca and large intestine - multiple section, each 3 cm in length, opened longitudinally.
Liver - multiple sections.
Pancreas.
Spleen - split between containers.
Adrenal.
Kidney - multiple sections from each kidney.
Testis/Ovary.
Oviduct - with longitudinal cut into lumen.
Brain - half in formalin and half frozen

NEONATAL/EMBRYONIC TISSUE

In addition to the above tissues, the following should be sampled:

Neonate: Umbilical area and surrounding tissue.

Embryo: Fix in toto - open celomic cavity.

Egg membranes and shell.

PALM COCKATOO NECROPSY PROTOCOL

Genus/Species:_________________________________________________________________

Bird Identification - leg band#/Name:_______________________________________________

ISIS #: _________ Studbook #: ___________ TRANSPONDER #: _____________________

Date of Birth: ___/___/___ Age: ____________ Weight: ___________kg

Date of Death: ___/___/___ Date of Necropsy: ___/___/___

Gross Necropsy Performed By: ____________________________________________________

Telephone: ______________________

Histopathology Performed By: ____________________________________________________

Telephone: ______________________

Institution/Owner: __________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Complete Necropsy Report Sent to SSP Veterinary Advisor? _______

Complete Necropsy Report Sent to SSP Pathologist? _________

and

Copies of Slides Sent to SSP Pathologist? ________

Gross Necropsy Report Sent to SSP Veterinary Advisor? _______

and

Formalin Fixed Tissues Sent to SSP Pathologist? _________

Whole Bird Sent to SSP Pathologist? __________

Palm Cockatoo Necropsy Protocol Page 2

Bird ID: ____________________

History: (Include housing and /or quarantine status, diet, clinical signs, treatments, antemortem test results and circumstances of death. Include incubation and hatching history for embryos and hatchling).

PLEASE ATTACH COPY OF MEDICAL RECORDS

______________________________________________________________________________

Palm Cockatoo Necropsy Protocol Page 3

Bird ID: ____________________

GROSS NECROPSY EXAMINATION

General Condition: (Nutritional status/physical condition)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Integumentary System: (Skin/feathers)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Musculoskeletal System: (Skeletal muscle, bone, joints)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Celomic Cavity: (Fat stores, abnormal fluid)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Hemolymphatic System: (Spleen, thymus, Bursa of Fabricius)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Respiratory System: (Nares, sinuses, choana, larynx, trachea, lungs, air sacs)

______________________________________________________________________________

Palm Cockatoo Necropsy Protocol Page 4

Bird ID: ____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Cardiovascular System: (Heart, pericardium, great vessels)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Digestive System: (Beak, oral cavity, tongue, crop, esophagus, proventriculus, ventriculus, intestines, cloaca)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Glandular Organs: (Liver, pancreas)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Urinary System: (Kidneys, ureters)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Reproductive System: (Testis/ovary, oviduct)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Endocrine System: (Adrenals, thyroid, parathyroids, pituitary)

______________________________________________________________________________

Palm Cockatoo Necropsy Protocol Page 5

Bird ID: ____________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Nervous and Sensory Systems: (Brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, eyes, ears)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Gross Diagnosis: (List each lesion separately. Include organ, type of lesion, severity, etc.)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Most Significant Finding/Lesion Contributing to Death: (Based on gross examination)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Laboratory Tests: (List bacterial, fungal, and viral cultures submitted and results if available. List postmortem fecal flotation and direct fecal exam results)

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Photography Performed? (List organs/lesions photographed)

______________________________________________________________________________

Palm Cockatoo Necropsy Protocol Page 6

Bird ID: ____________________

NEONATAL/EMBRYONIC GROSS EXAM: In addition to routine gross exam, the following guidelines should be used for neonates and embryos:

EMBRYOS

______________________________________________________________________________

Shell and Egg Membranes: (Shell irregularities, membrane discolorations or exudates)

______________________________________________________________________________

Yolk Sac: (Internal or external, abnormal contents)

______________________________________________________________________________

Embryo: (Position in shell in relation to air cell)

Open celomic cavity and fix in toto. Describe any congenital or obvious abnormalities.

NEONATE

______________________________________________________________________________

Yolk Sac: (Internal or external, size and abnormal contents)

______________________________________________________________________________

Umbilical Area: (Describe and fix entire area)

______________________________________________________________________________

Malformations:

______________________________________________________________________________

Bursa/Cloaca: (Describe and fix entire cloaca in unable to locate bursa)

______________________________________________________________________________

Assess Hydration: (Tissue moistness)

______________________________________________________________________________

Evidence of Eating: (Food in crop or proventriculus)

______________________________________________________________________________

Did Breathing Occur? (Do lungs float in formalin?)

For further information or comments, please contact Mike Taylor


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