Veterinary pathologists are
veterinarians who specialize in the
diagnosis
Diagnosis (: diagnoses) is the identification of the nature and cause of a certain phenomenon. Diagnosis is used in a lot of different academic discipline, disciplines, with variations in the use of logic, analytics, and experience, to determine " ...
of diseases through the examination of animal tissue and body fluids.
Like medical
pathology
Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...
, veterinary pathology is divided into two branches,
anatomical pathology and
clinical pathology. Other than the diagnosis of disease in food-producing animals, companion animals, zoo animals and wildlife, veterinary pathologists also have an important role in drug discovery and safety as well as scientific research.
Veterinary anatomical pathology
Anatomical pathology (Commonwealth) or anatomic pathology (U.S.) is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the
gross examination,
microscopic
The microscopic scale () is the scale of objects and events smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye, requiring a lens or microscope to see them clearly. In physics, the microscopic scale is sometimes regarded as the scale betwe ...
, and
molecular examination of
organs,
tissues, and whole bodies (
necropsy). Veterinary pathology also takes into account the structure and function of the body and how particular cells were injured. The Indian, European, Japanese, and American Colleges of Veterinary Pathologists certify veterinary pathologists through a certifying exam after completing a residency program. After completing the residency and the exam, a certificate will be given out to display specialization in veterinary pathology. The American College of Veterinary Pathologist certification exam consists of four parts, - gross pathology, microscopic pathology, veterinary pathology, and general pathology. Only the general pathology section is shared between the anatomic and clinical pathology examinations. Veterinary pathologists are employed in several different positions, including diagnostics, teaching, research, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Veterinary clinical pathology
Clinical pathology is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the
laboratory
A laboratory (; ; colloquially lab) is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific or technological research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. Laboratories are found in a variety of settings such as schools ...
analysis of
bodily fluid
Body fluids, bodily fluids, or biofluids, sometimes body liquids, are liquids within the body of an organism. In lean healthy adult men, the total body water is about 60% (60–67%) of the total body weight; it is usually slightly lower in wom ...
s such as
blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells.
Blood is com ...
,
urine
Urine is a liquid by-product of metabolism in humans and many other animals. In placental mammals, urine flows from the Kidney (vertebrates), kidneys through the ureters to the urinary bladder and exits the urethra through the penile meatus (mal ...
or cavitary effusions, or tissue aspirates using the tools of
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a physical science within the natural sciences that studies the chemical elements that make up matter and chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules a ...
,
microbiology
Microbiology () is the branches of science, scientific study of microorganisms, those being of unicellular organism, unicellular (single-celled), multicellular organism, multicellular (consisting of complex cells), or non-cellular life, acellula ...
,
hematology
Hematology (American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, spelled haematology in British English) is the branch of medicine concerned with the study of the cause, prognosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to bloo ...
, and
molecular pathology.
Clinical pathology labs offer many services including hematology, hemostasis, urinalysis, cytology, and clinical biochemistry tests.
Many clinical pathology tests can be done "in" or "out" of house, meaning that the test can be done in that particular clinic or sent to a further specialized outside laboratory. Many patients have the desire to do "in-house" tests because it is usually cheaper. Ultimately, veterinary pathology consists of most of the behind-the-scenes laboratory work that studies virus, infections, bacteria, and much more. Without veterinary pathologists, illness would spread throughout many species of animals much quicker than in the present day.
See also
*
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, medical diagnosis, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in non-human animals. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all a ...
References
External links
American College of Veterinary PathologistsEuropean College of Veterinary Clinical PathologyEuropean College of Veterinary Pathologists
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Veterinary medicine