Collecting and sending laboratory samples of cattle, sheep and horses

Abstract

Collecting and sending of samples for laboratory analysis in animals such as cattle, sheep, and horses is essential for accurate disease diagnosis and the assessment of animal health. Proper handling of whole blood samples is crucial to maintain the integrity of the specimen and ensure accurate serological results, thereby, facilitating precise diagnoses and appropriate treatment. Additionally, proper biosafety protocols help prevent the incidence of zoonotic diseases and mitigates other negative outcomes resulting from poor handling practices. Furthermore, it is necessary to accurately identify specific anatomical sites for blood sample collection in different species, such as the jugular vein in horses and sheep, and the coccygeal vein in cattle. The study emphasizes the importance of correctly labeling samples to ensure traceability, as well as the proper preservation of samples through refrigeration or freezing, depending on the required analysis. The article also addresses the proper collection and submission of other sample types, such as feces, milk, and rumen contents, for microbiological and serological analysis. Sample collection must follow specific techniques based on the specie, and vary based on the type of sample: venipuncture of the jugular, coccygeal, mammary vein, or femoral artery for blood samples; swabs for nasal, conjunctival, and rectal cavities; and collection of milk, feces, and rumen contents. In deceased animals, necropsy allows for the extraction of organs for analysis, which requires the use of appropriate equipment for sample collection.