Thoughts on Appropriate Sampling Techniques for Disease Diagnosis in Zoos and Aquariums

Abstract

　When animals kept in zoos and aquariums die, most institutions perform necropsy, harvest and preserve the specimens for testing in-house, or deliver the specimen to other laboratories. Disease diagnosis or determination of the cause of death must be performed comprehensively based on a multitude of testing results. Therefore, selecting correct sampling methods is crucial. If appropriate methods are not followed during harvest, preservation, and transport of specimens, the testing will not produce the expected results. Selecting the appropriate harvesting methods suited to the testing objectives leads to early and accurate diagnosis, which in turn prevents animal mortality. Thus, quick and accurate diagnosis is vital for efficient animal management. For successful testing, it is important for both parties, those requesting and those performing the testing, to be mutually aware of the actual circumstances involved and communicate on a regular basis.