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Liver biopsy

ISSN 2398-2993

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Synonym(s): tissue sample hepatic

Introduction

  • Copper status is best assessed using liver tissue analysis.
  • Liver pathology is relatively common in cattle, in particular nutritional etiologies.
  • Clinical examination allows only limited assessment of the liver.
  • Blood liver enzymes are valuable, but require a substantial amount of liver damage before a rise will be seen.
  • Liver biopsy and ultrasonography offer the potential means to establish an early and definite diagnosis.

Uses

Advantages

  • Simple technique.
  • Can be done in the standing animal on farm.
  • Minimal risk of complications.

Disadvantages

  • Small size of sample may make laboratory analysis challenging.
  • Focal disease may be missed. Ultrasound guidance is useful in such cases.

Technical problems

  • No sample obtained. For trace element monitoring, have a couple of spare animals on stand-by.

Alternative techniques

  • For trace element monitoring: liver tissue collected from cull animals at abattoir.

Time required

Preparation

Procedure

  • 10 min.

Decision taking

Criteria for choosing procedure

Risk assessment

  • Consider establishing clotting ability in valuable animals (a blood sample drawn into a plain vacutainer should clot within 5 minutes).

Requirements

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Preparation

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Technique

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Aftercare

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Outcomes

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Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers