Pathology Flashcards
(164 cards)
Provide the six pathological processes we need to consider when interpreting a necropsy ?
The six pathological processes
- Malformations and displacements
- Degeneration and necrosis
- Inflammation
- Alterations in vasculature
- Alterations in growth
- Neoplasia
(9) Describe the common post mortem changes often observed ?
9 post mortem changes
- autolysis
- rigor mortis
- algor mortis
- liver mortis (hypostatic congestion)
- post mortem clotting
- haemoglobin imbibition
- bile imbibition
- pseudomelanosis
- bloating, prolapse
- organ displacement
bloody nasal discharge
These changes are non pathological as they occur on or after death.
Describe when and where rigor mortis occurs and why ?
Rigor mortis - contraction of muscles following death
- usually 1-6 hours after death but may persist for 1-2 days
- starts in involuntary muscles, than voluntary muscles
- starts from the head and descends to the trunk and limbs
- muscular animals have a stronger rigor mortis
- high temperature or activity may accelerate the onset of rigor
Note - animals with cachexia / extreme malnutrition may not show signs of rigor mortis
It is caused by a depletion of oxygen and glycogen which subsequently prevents the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) after death - no relaxation
Describe this change that occurs post mortem ?
Algor mortis - gradual cooling of the cadaver
- cooling depends upon the body temperature at death eg fever, environmental temp, insulation
- difficult to interpret to establish a time of death
- lens opacity when carcass is cold
Describe this change that occurs post mortem ?
Livor mortis: Hypostatic congestion
Gravitational pull of blood to the down side of the animal
- process begins within an hour of death
- seen externally in skin (best seen white animals)
- seen internally - particularly the lung
Describe this change which occurs post mortem ?
Post mortem clot - clotting in large vessels and heart
Before the blood clots erythrocytes settle to the bottom of a large blood vessel
- dependent on sedimentation rate (ESR)
- faster rate in horses and animals with a systemic inflammatory reaction
Results in two portions
bottoms red mass “red current jelly clot
upper pale yellowish mass “chicken fat clot”
How do we distinguish a a post mortem blood clot from a ante mortem thrombi or emboli ?
How to distinguish a post mortem blood clot
To distinguish carefully remove with forceps
- post-mortem clots are unattached to vessel walls, tend to be shiny, wet and form a perfect cast of the vessel lumen
- anti-mortem arterial thrombi are attached, dry and duller + laminated with a tail extending downstream
- anti-mortem venous thrombi are loosely attached and may resemble post mortem thrombi
Describe this post mortem change, and its cause ?
Autolysis - A breakdown of cells after death
- changes are amplified and accelerated by bacterial decomposition
- bacterial metabolism and dissolution of tissues results in colour and texture changes
- softening
- friable
- gas production and odours are collectively termed putrefaction
What is maceration ?
Maceration - The dissolving of soft tissues eg muscle, leaving behind sclerotized or chitinized portions.
Describe this post mortem change and its cause ?
Haemoglobin imbibition
Refers to the pink red staining of tissue
- haemoglobin from lysed erythrocytes penetrates vessel walls and surrounding tissues
- particularly observed in the heart and large blood vessels (eg aorta), and veins after several hours post mortem
- very obvious in aborted foetuses that have been retained for several hours or days in the uterus
Describe this post mortem change and its cause ?
Bile imbibition = Bile from the gallbladder penetrates its wall and stains adjacent tissue yellowish green
- observed adjacent to the gall bladder
- liver, intestine and to a large extent bile ducts
Describe this post mortem change and its cause ?
Pseudomelanosis
Green - grey - black discolouration of tissues
Post mortem we may observe bloating, organ displacment, livor pallor, mucosal sloughing, bloody nasal discharge and rectal/vaginal prolapse why do these changes occur ?
Post mortem changes
Bloating
- more marked in ruminants and horses
- can be difficult to distinguish from ruminal tympany in ruminants
Organ displacement
- gas held within the gastrointestinal tract
Pale areas in the liver (pallor)
- due to increased abdominal pressure from gas filled intestines or a focal action of post-mortem bacteria
Bloody nasal discharge / often an artefact
- nasal congestion and subsequent rupture of congested vessels
- can be difficult to distinguish from haemorrhage
Rectal or vaginal prolapse
- due to gas distension of abdominal viscera
Describe the three circulatory disorders of the oral cavity pictured below ?
Circulatory disorders of the oral cavity
Green = Pallor (pale)
anaemia, haemorrhage, ratsack poisoning
Blue = Icterus (jaundice)
Haemolytic disorders, liver disease
Purple = Cyanosis
oxygen deficiency, methaemoglobinaemia
Describe the two circulatory disorders of the oral cavity pictured below ?
Circulatory disorders of the oral cavity
Blue = Congestion and oedema
Blue tongue virus, buccal mucosa and tongue
Red = Petechia / ecchymosis
septicaemia, DIC and thrombocytopaenia
Oral abnormalities may provide clues of systemic illness.
Identify the development abnormality of the oral cavity depicted below ?
The image demonstrates
Palatoschisis (cleft palate)
- A failure of fusion of the lateral palatine plates
- may involve only the soft palate, or both the hard and soft palate
genetic or toxic origin
Cheiloschisis (cleft lip)
- Failure of fusion of the upper lip along the philtrum (midline)
Define chelitis, gingivitis and glossitis ?
Definitions
Chelitis = chronic inflammation of the lips
Gingivitis = early form of gum disease / inflammation
Glossitis = Tongue becomes inflammed and swollen
When describing lesions we use the words Macule, Papule, Vesicles and Ulcers define these terms ?
Definitions
Macule = raised flat lesion
Papule = raised and round
Vesicles = fluid filled
Erosions = indent top layer only
Ulcer = indent beyond the submucosa
Describe the clinical signs of Vesicular Stomatitides ?
Vesicular Stomatitides
Fluid filled vesicles in the epithelium of the oral cavity, lips, rostral plate and tongue
Lesions enlarge form vessicles, coalesce into bullae rupturing into erosions and ulcers
Lesions and signs
Bullae = large blisters on the skin that are filled with clear fluid
Ptyalism = the animals overproduce saliva
- oral and nasal vesicles and bullae
- oral epithelium detaches leaving a raw ulcerated surface
- Ptyalism - too much saliva
- fever
- anorexia
ulcerations on mammaries and genitalia
Define Bullae and Ptyalism ?
Definitions
Bullae = Large blisters on the skin that are filled with clear fluid
Ptyalism = over production of saliva
What causes Vesicular Stomatitides (inflammation of the mouth) ?
Vesicular Stomatitides
Viral induced vesiculation of the oral epithelium
- Foot and mouth disease ( ruminants, pigs)
- Vesicular stomatitis (cattle, pigs and horses)
- Vesicular Exanthema (pigs)
- Swine vesicular disease (pigs)
These are non fatal but result in great economic loss
- poor weight gain
-possible abortions
-secondary bacterial infections
- exotic to Australia / export barriers
The vesicular viruses are epitheliotrophic causing epithelial lesions
- intracellular oedema leading to swelling of the stratum spongiosum
- cells rupture, virus is released to infect nearby cells
- lesions enlarge, form vesicles, coalesce into bullae
- rupture into erosions and ulcers
What are the potential causes of ulcerative / erosive Stomatitides ?
Identify this type of Stomatitides, and its clinical signs?
Ulcerative / erosive Stomatitides
- erosion / ulceration no vesicles