WildLife Group
of the SAVA
(brainstem). Freeze the remaining brain. You can
find and sample 7 the pituitary gland, which will
still be in the brain cavity on the bottom middle
(in the front half of the skull). You may need to
cut through the white tissue over the pituitary.
Freeze the carcass for Prof Jansen.
After you have Completed the Necropsy
Removal of the skull to expose the brain.
Brain
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12
The final samples to remove are the brain and
pituitary gland. First, remove the head by cutting
between the head and the first neck vertebrae,
and remove the skin and muscle from the back
of the head forward to just behind the eyes, and
including removing the ears. Remove the brain
intact by cutting through and lifting off the top of
the skull. Cut carefully through the bone, trying
not to cut into the brain underneath. Cut across
the skull behind the eyes. The make 2 horizontal
cuts along the side of the skull from the first cut
to the spinal cord apeture. Gently lift off the
skull plate and very gently remove the brain,
cutting through the spinal nerves and meninges
that attach the brain to the skull. Very gently cut
down the The brain can be placed in formalin
whole in small animals, or sample a small portion
from the top front (cerebrum), the top back
(cerebellum), and the bottom back one-third
Clean your instruments, gloves and hands. All
contaminated paper or plastic materials should be
either thoroughly disinfected or burnt. All blood
and residual tissues should be removed from the
instruments and tools with soap and water. Then the
instruments should be disinfected. o Wash, dry and
label all sample containers, using a waterproof marker,
with the date, animal species, animal ID (if available),
geographic location and your name. For formalin-fixed
tissues, a paper label with the animal identification
written in pencil can be submerged in formalin with
the tissues.
Make sure all containers are adequately sealed and no
leakage can occur. Arrange for appropriate disposal of
the carcass. Carcasses with anthrax or other infectious
diseases should be buried (preferably covered with a
disinfectant and buried at least 2 m deep to prevent
scavenging). Where infectious disease is suspected,
the carcass and all tissues from the carcass including
blood soaked dirt should be buried or burnt. Store
sample and data appropriately. Your clothing should
be thoroughly washed.