REGIONAL VETERINARY LABORATORIES REPORT:JANUARY 2015

摘要

Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs) carried out necropsy examinations on 1,093 carcasses, including 754 foetuses, during January 2015. Bovine submissions accounted for 38% of non-foetal carcasses and 90% of foetal submissions. Ovine and porcine submissions represented 23% and 18%, respectively, of all submissions, excluding foetuses. There were 3,076 diagnostic samples submitted to RVLs during January 2015, the vast majority of which were from cattle. Diagnostic submissions to RVLs are tested andinterpreted to aid veterinary surgeons investigating outbreaks of disease on farms where a carcass is unavailable or cannot be submitted. In certain circumstances - such as an acute outbreak of respiratory disease - prompt, appropriate, on-farm diagnostic sampling greatly enhances the prospect of reaching a diagnosis. However, it should be noted that submission ofa fresh carcass, when available, complete with a thorough clinical history, allows a comprehensive investigation into the cause of death in an individual animal. It can also can reveal health issues that may have severe detrimental impacts on animal production, disease and welfare in the originating herd or flock. Veterinary practitioners and animal owners are reminded to contact RVLs and to consider submission of fallen animals for necropsy examination, especially in cases where the cause of death is unclear or where the mortality rate is excessive.This month's report details some of the more interesting cases submitted to RVLs during January 2015 and highlights the most frequent findings and diseases encountered. There is also a poignant but interesting description this month of a female hen harrier that was submitted to Limerick RVL.