Nepal Elephant TB Control and Mgt Action Plan.pdf - Elephant Care ...

Nepal Elephant Tuberculosis Control andManagement Action Plan (2011-2015)Appendix IIINepal Elephant Postmortem ProtocolSpecial considera!ons for TB-infected elephants or TB suspectsA thorough search for lesions of tuberculosis (TB) is encouraged in all elephant necropsies especiallyelephants that are known to be reacve on the Elephant TB Stat-Pak ® and DPP Vet ® TB tests. ElephantTB is likely to be caused by M. tuberculosis or M. bovis which are contagious to humans. Wear properprotecve apparel, and contain any suspicious organs or lesions as soon as possible. All involved personnelshould wear N-95 masks.Approach: During examinaon of an elephant with unknown, suspicious, or posive TB test history, disseconof the thoracic cavity should always be performed last, and should be done by two people withN-95 face masks and other protecve clothing. All other personnel should be dismissed from the areabefore the thoracic cavity is entered. A!er the abdominal viscera have been removed, the diaphragmcan be cut from its costo-sternal a"achments and the lungs palpated from a caudal approach for tuberculosisnodules, as the lobes are being separated from the closely adhered visceral and parietal pleura.The heart, lungs, and associated structures may then be removed “en bloc”.Necropsy procedures: Carefully examine the tonsillar regions and sub-mandibular lymph nodes for TBlesions. These lymph nodes may be more easily visualized following removal of the tongue and laryngealstructures during the dissecon. All lymph nodes should be carefully evaluated for lesions sinceother sites may also be infected (ex. reproducve or gastrointesnal tract). Take any nodes that appearcaseous or granulomatous for culture (freeze or place in sodium borate) and histopathology (in buffered10% formalin).Search thoracic organs carefully for early stages of TB as follows: a!er removal of the lungs and trachea,locate the bronchial nodes at the juncon of the bronchi from the trachea. Secon the nodes and collectin formalin even if no lesions are present. If lesions are present, place half of the lymph node in a 50 mlscrew-top tube and submit for culture.Carefully, palpate the lobes of both lungs from the apices to the caudal borders to detect any firm B-Bshot to nodular size lesions. Take numerous (5 or more) secons of any suspicious lesions. Open the tracheaand look for nodules or plaques and process as above. Regional thoracic and tracheal lymph nodesshould also be examined and processed accordingly. Split the trunk from the p to its inseron and takesamples of any plaques, nodules or suspicious areas for TB diagnosis as above. Look for and collect possibleextra-thoracic TB lesions, parcularly if there is evidence of advanced pulmonary TB.35