Reminder about PM sampling for respiratory disease
Correct sampling during postmortems is essential for identifying respiratory diseases.
We have been busy in the postmortem room recently with the seasonal increase in cattle pneumonia cases. Respiratory disease in any cattle production system remains a very significant cause of poor welfare, reduced production efficiency and increased antibiotic use. We have fielded a number of calls regarding what samples to take if you have the opportunity to perform an on-farm postmortem when investigating respiratory disease problems. A handy sampling guide is given below alongside a recent photo from one of our cases last week.
If you have any questions regarding correct sampling, please do not hesitate to contact the central & south east vet team on 0131 535 3130.
|
TEST |
TISSUE |
METHOD |
STORAGE |
|
Histopathology |
Lung Heart Trachea Larynx Lesions |
1 x 1 cm 4 - 6 representative samples from lung Papillary muscle from heart Trachea
|
ASAP Room temp 10% formalin-plenty! Leak proof container Store for as long as needed |
|
Bacterial cultures |
Affected lung +/- Abscess’s Avoid very necrotic tissue |
Sterile technique Charcoal swab |
Fridge before submitting |
|
Mycoplasma cultures |
Lung |
Sterile technique Plain swab DO NOT PUT IN CHARCOAL |
In mycoplasma medium if available Fridge before submitting |
|
Mycoplasma PCR’s |
Lung |
Tissue 1x1 cm
|
In mycoplasma medium if available Fridge before submitting Freeze tissue if holding |
|
Viral PCR’s |
Lung Tracheal |
Tissue 1x1 cm Tracheal swab- plain (non-wooden) |
Fridge before submitting Freeze tissue if holding Not necessarily need VTM |
|
Histophilus somni septicaemia [PCR] |
Lesions: Heart, Larynx, Brain, joint
|
Tissue 1x1 cm
|
Fridge before submitting Freeze if holding VTM not needed |
|
Histophilus somni septicaemia [Cultures] |
Lesions: Heart, Larynx, Brain, joint |
Sterile technique Charcoal swab (Can be difficult to grow) |
Fridge before submitting |
|
BVD [PCR] |
Spleen |
Tissue 1x1 cm |
Fridge before submitting Freeze if holding Not necessarily need VTM |
Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 01/12/2021
