Front Page VSPN Message Boards Chat Library Continual Education Search MyVSPN - Coming Soon Help Frequently Asked Questions Send us Feedback! Go to VIN Industry Partners Go to VetQuest Go to Veterinary Partner Go to Y2Spay
 
Menu bar   Go to the VIN.com Portal
 

ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

Veterinary pathology
Volume 53 | Issue 5 (September 2016)

Postmortem Changes in Animal Carcasses and Estimation of the Postmortem Interval.

Vet Pathol. September 2016;53(5):929-40.
J W Brooks1
1 Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA jwb21@psu.edu.
© The Author(s) 2016.

Abstract

A thorough understanding of the physical and chemical changes that occur in the body after death is critical for accurate interpretation of gross and microscopic pathology at autopsy. Furthermore, knowledge of the postmortem processes and the factors that affect them will aid in the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI). The estimation of the PMI is important in many human and animal death investigations. Despite many decades of research, accuracy in estimation of the time of death has not significantly improved, and no single method can be reliably used to accurately estimate the time of death. Great care should be taken when formulating such an estimate, for it is dependent on multiple circumstantial and environmental factors, and the accuracy and precision of the estimate decrease as the PMI increases. The majority of the research in the field has been conducted on human bodies, but many relevant conclusions may be drawn regarding the expected postmortem changes in animals and the estimation of the PMI. The veterinary pathologist must use great caution when attempting to extrapolate data and apply formulas designed for use in humans. Methods reviewed include gross changes, microscopic changes, temperature-based methods, postmortem chemistry, molecular methods, microbial assay, ocular changes, radiography, entomology, and others. Although only several of these methods are currently practical for use in the workup of cases, it is expected that future research will result in improved techniques with enhanced accuracy in the estimation of the PMI, which will benefit both human and veterinary forensic investigations.

Article Tools:
   Medline
   Email to me

Archives Highlights:
Treatment and outcome following substantial ketamine overdose in a dog.
This case report documents an iatrogenic 338 times intravenous ketamine overdose in a dog, which was successfully managed with supportive care. In addition, it highlights the importance of doctor-technician communication and the potential errors in using electronic treatment sheets.
A review of adverse events in animals and children after secondary exposure to transdermal hormone-containing medicinal products.
The clinical signs reported in animals included persistent signs of oestrus, poor growth rate, and birth defects. In humans, reported clinical signs included precocious puberty, unresolved virilisation, accelerated growth rate, and female infertility.
Sternal Abnormalities on Thoracic Radiographs of Dogs and Cats.
Sternal abnormalities were observed in 189/777 (24%) dogs and 53/183 (29%) cats, mostly around the intersternebral cartilages, accounting for 32/80 (40%) dogs and 20/35 (57%) cats. This was followed by an abnormal number of sternal segments (8% dogs, range 3-9 sternebrae; 15% cats, range 7-9 sternebra). Pectus excavatum was observed in 6/777 (0.8%) dogs and 6/183 (3%) cats, and pectus carinatum in 18/777 (2%) dogs and 2/183 (1%) cats.
Diagnostic imaging of the equine cervical spine – Are radiographs enough? (Clinical Commentary)
Toxocara cati Infection in Cats
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends testing kittens for intestinal parasites at least 4 times in the first year of life and twice a year thereafter. Although the prepatent period for T cati infection is 8 weeks, to combat any potential of hookworm infection, treatment for parasitic infection should be initiated at 2 weeks of age and repeated every 2 weeks until regular broad-spectrum parasite control is begun.

Back Print Save Bookmark in my Browser Email this article to me. Top of Page. VSPN AOW : Postmortem Changes in Ani...
Contact Us