Forensic necropsies of cattle: a study of Danish cases from 2010 to 2021 and a guideline for forensic examination of cattle
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Forensic necropsies of cattle : a study of Danish cases from 2010 to 2021 and a guideline for forensic examination of cattle. / Barington, Kristiane; Nielsen, Thilde B.; Andersen, Regitze S.; Jensen, Henrik E.
I: Journal of Comparative Pathology, Bind 201, 2023, s. 57-62.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Forensic necropsies of cattle
T2 - a study of Danish cases from 2010 to 2021 and a guideline for forensic examination of cattle
AU - Barington, Kristiane
AU - Nielsen, Thilde B.
AU - Andersen, Regitze S.
AU - Jensen, Henrik E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Forensic post-mortem examinations of animals are carried out on suspicion of violation of European and national legislation. In Denmark, and probably also in other countries with large-scale cattle production, cattle are regularly submitted for forensic assessment. Unfortunately, only few studies of forensic pathology in cattle are available. This paper presents a retrospective study of forensic case files on Danish cattle from January 2010 to December 2021. The case files were characterized with respect to types of lesion, age assessments of lesions and other parameters such as age and sex. A total of 118 forensic case files had been archived and related to 132 cattle (14 weeks–20 years of age; 68% female, 30% male and 2% unknown sex) with 228 lesions. Locomotor disorders constituted the majority of lesions. However, cachexia/emaciation, skin ulcerations and overgrowth of cornual horn were also frequent. Most lesions were chronic (91%) and age assessments for more than 2 weeks were stated for 79% of the lesions. This indicates that in Denmark at least, there is a need to consider how cattle with locomotor disorders are treated in a timely manner in order to avoid prolonged futile treatment and, thereby, suffering. Grossly visible reparative granulation tissue and new bone formation were present in lesions of 1–2 weeks and longer duration. However, all age assessments were stated in broad time intervals due to the lack of scientifically based forensic studies of age assessments of lesions in cattle. Therefore, to improve age assessments in forensic cattle cases, studies concerning the chronology of tissue reparation in cattle are warranted. We also present a guideline for the forensic examination of cattle.
AB - Forensic post-mortem examinations of animals are carried out on suspicion of violation of European and national legislation. In Denmark, and probably also in other countries with large-scale cattle production, cattle are regularly submitted for forensic assessment. Unfortunately, only few studies of forensic pathology in cattle are available. This paper presents a retrospective study of forensic case files on Danish cattle from January 2010 to December 2021. The case files were characterized with respect to types of lesion, age assessments of lesions and other parameters such as age and sex. A total of 118 forensic case files had been archived and related to 132 cattle (14 weeks–20 years of age; 68% female, 30% male and 2% unknown sex) with 228 lesions. Locomotor disorders constituted the majority of lesions. However, cachexia/emaciation, skin ulcerations and overgrowth of cornual horn were also frequent. Most lesions were chronic (91%) and age assessments for more than 2 weeks were stated for 79% of the lesions. This indicates that in Denmark at least, there is a need to consider how cattle with locomotor disorders are treated in a timely manner in order to avoid prolonged futile treatment and, thereby, suffering. Grossly visible reparative granulation tissue and new bone formation were present in lesions of 1–2 weeks and longer duration. However, all age assessments were stated in broad time intervals due to the lack of scientifically based forensic studies of age assessments of lesions in cattle. Therefore, to improve age assessments in forensic cattle cases, studies concerning the chronology of tissue reparation in cattle are warranted. We also present a guideline for the forensic examination of cattle.
KW - age assessment
KW - cattle
KW - forensic veterinary pathology
KW - granulation tissue
U2 - 10.1016/j.jcpa.2022.12.012
DO - 10.1016/j.jcpa.2022.12.012
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36709729
AN - SCOPUS:85147802691
VL - 201
SP - 57
EP - 62
JO - Journal of Comparative Pathology
JF - Journal of Comparative Pathology
SN - 0021-9975
ER -
ID: 337598311