Veterinary forensic necropsies: a look through an aspect of forensic traumatology

Forensic veterinary pathology is essential to identify the cause of death of animals with suspicion of abuse, neglect, exogenous intoxication, medical errors, if the lesions were accidental or ante-mortem or in cases where the animal’s identity is needed. It involves several areas that can be used to determine the cause of death in animals, such as traumatology, entomology and toxicology. This work aims to determine the main lesions found in judicial necropsies of animals from the metropolitan region of Belém, qualifying the most prevalent lesions according to the classification in forensic traumatology. The necropsy was performed according to the animal species and using the method of Ghon. The animals were grouping by specie, sex, race and age and it was made a segmentation by vulnerable energy. 33 judicial necropsies (9.06%) were performed between January 2018 and December 2019, including 22 canines (66.7%), seven felines (21.2%), two farm animals (6.1%) and two wild animals (6.1%). Regarding the sex of the animals, in general, 51.51% were males and 45.45% were females. Young dogs and cats represented the highest percentage of cases. Mixed breed dogs were the most prevalent, with 31.8%. In all species, the most prevalent energy was chemical energy, totalling 18 cases. Second, with six cases, mechanical trauma with only canines and felines, in which, only in three were evident the blunt injury. In only one case, the suspicion was of biodynamic energy, with suggestive findings. In conclusion, the forensic necropsy associated with the animal’s history is capable of providing relevant information which assists the pathologist in the search for injuries, its identification and interpretation.

Veterinary forensic necropsies: a look through an aspect of forensic traumatology

Forensic veterinary pathology is essential to identify the cause of death of animals with suspicion of abuse, neglect, exogenous intoxication, medical errors, if the lesions were accidental or ante-mortem or in cases where the animals identity is needed. It involves several areas that can be used to determine the cause of death in animals, such as traumatology, entomology and toxicology. This work aims to determine the main lesions found in judicial necropsies of animals from the metropolitan region of Belém, qualifying the most prevalent lesions according to the classification in forensic traumatology. The necropsy was performed according to the animal species and using the method of Ghon. The animals were grouping by specie, sex, race and age and it was made a segmentation by vulnerable energy. 33 judicial necropsies (9.06%) were performed between January 2018 and December 2019, including 22 canines (66.7%), seven felines (21.2%), two farm animals (6.1%) and two wild animals (6.1%). Regarding the sex of the animals, in general, 51.51% were males and 45.45% were females. Young dogs and cats represented the highest percentage of cases. Mixed breed dogs were the most prevalent, with 31.8%. In all species, the most prevalent energy was chemical energy, totalling 18 cases. Second, with six cases, mechanical trauma with only canines and felines, in which, only in three were evident the blunt injury. In only one case, the suspicion was of biodynamic energy, with suggestive findings. In conclusion, the forensic necropsy associated with the animals history is capable of providing relevant information which assists the pathologist in the search for injuries, its identification and interpretation.(AU)

Achados necroscópicos em cães e gatos vítimas de intoxicação exógena / Necroscopic findings in dogs and cats victim of intentional intoxication

O reconhecimento adequado dos sinais clínicos e lesões anatomopatológicas são importantes para caracterizar os casos de intoxicação exógena em cães e gatos. O diagnóstico definitivo do agente tóxico deve ser realizado por exame toxicológico. No período de 2009 a 2014 foram analisados 42 casos de necropsia com histórico de intoxicação exógena de 31 (73,8%) cães e 11 (26,2%) gatos. Destes 21 (50%) apresentaram Boletim de Ocorrência e 22 (52,4%) foram submetidos ao exame toxicológico. A maior prevalência verificada foi intoxicação por carbamato e nos exames necroscópicos a principal causa de morte insuficiência cardiorrespiratória, seguida por choque hipovolêmico. Na histopatologia do fígado, rim e cérebro as principais lesões encontradas foram congestão, degeneração e hemorragia. Os órgãos apresentaram sinais de autólise e putrefação. Com base no estudo observou-se que as técnicas diagnósticas complementares, histopatologia e exame toxicológico, fornecem suporte adicional na elaboração de laudos em casos de intoxicações exógenas criminais envolvendo animais.(AU)

Appropriate recognition of the clinical signs, lesions anatomical pathological that characterizes cases of animals intoxication that take to death. Associated with the methods of identification laboratorial of forensic toxicology is fundamental to establish a definitive diagnosis of the toxic agent. In period 2009 to 2014 are selected 42 cases, 31 (73,8%) dogs and 11 (26,2%) cats. These cases 21 (50%) feature police reports and 22 (52,4%) are made toxicological exam. Highest prevalence was intoxication for carbamate. Necroscopic exam revealed that main cause of death were cardiac respiratory insufficiency and hypovolemic shock. In histopathology of liver, kidney and brain the main lesions are congestion, degeneration and bleeding. The organs showed signs of autolysis and putrefaction. The diagnostic techniques used, histopathology and necropsy are additional and helps veterinarian to make reports for litigation in cases of intentional poisoning in animals.(AU)

NECROPSIA VIRTUAL EM ANIMAIS DOMÉSTICOS E SILVESTRES: TÉCNICA ALTERNATIVA E/OU COMPLEMENTAR À NECROPSIA CONVENCIONAL

A necropsia convencional é o exame detalhado de um cadáver, bem como de seus órgãos, com a finalidade de determinar a causa da morte. Recentemente, o exame por imagem, em particular a tomografia computadorizada (TC), vem substituindo e ou até complementando a necropsia tradicional. O exame necroscópico, ao longo dos anos, vem se consolidando como um método válido e confiável, capaz de confirmar ou questionar ações, tanto na área médica como na aplicação de leis. Porém os pesquisadores, inspirados pelos rápidos avanços tecnológicos, continuam buscando alternativas viáveis na melhoria de qualidade destes exames tradicionais. O objetivo do presente trabalho é estabelecer uma comparação entre as lesões encontradas na técnica tradicional de necropsia com a necropsia virtual, realizada por exame de tomografia computadorizada, em animais com sinais de morte violenta ou natural. Para tanto, foram utilizados dezoito (18) animais distribuídos da seguinte maneira: dez (10) cães (Canis lupus familiaris), seis (6) bugios (Alouatta guariba clamitans), um (1) gambá (Didelphis albiventris) e um (1) tamanduá-mirim (Tamandu atetradactyla), sem predileção por sexo e idade. Uma análise da sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo e índice de concordância Kappa foram calculados considerando-se os dois diferentes métodos de necropsia comparativamente. Através de um questionário aplicado a veterinários de diferentes especialidades, foi estimado qual a provável causa da morte dos animais e assim, uma nova metodologia de análise dos dados (Teoria Bayesiana) foi proposta. Os resultados da necropsia convencional e virtual foram complementares, levando-se a concluir que os métodos utilizados nesta pesquisa melhoraram a qualidade do diagnóstico conclusivo da causa mortis dos animais.

Conventional necropsy is the detailed examination of a corpse, as well as of its organs, for the purpose of determining the cause of death. Recently, the imaging examination, in particular the Computed Tomography (CT), has been replacing and / or completing the traditional necropsy. Necroscopic examination over the years has consolidated itself as a valid and reliable method, capable of confirming or questioning actions, both in the medical field and in the application of laws. However, researchers continue to seek viable alternatives, inspired by rapid technological advances in improving the quality of these traditional exams. The objective of the present work is to compare the lesions found in the traditional necropsy technique with the Virtual Necropsy, performed through the CT scan, in animals with signs of violent or natural death. For this, 18 animals were distributed as follows: ten dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), six howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans), one opossum (Didelphis albiventris) and one lesser anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) with no predilection for sex and age. An analysis of the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Kappa index were calculated considering the two different necropsy methods comparatively. Through a questionnaire applied to veterinarians of different specialties was established the probable cause of death of the animals and thus a new methodology of data analysis (Bayesian Theory) was proposed. The results of conventional and virtual necropsy were complementary, leading us to conclude that the methods used in this research improved the quality of the conclusive diagnosis of the mortis cause of the animals.