Necropsy team offers first look into causes of animal deaths

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By Maci Guay

The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, necropsy team in College Station is devoted to positively impacting human and animal health one dissection at a time. Every year, this group is called upon to perform 1,300 necropsies to monitor for diseases and answer questions about animal deaths.

The team comprises two veterinary technicians, a lab supervisor and a student worker. Amid the morbidity, their physical and emotional strength are essential to providing exceptional service to TVMDL’s clients.

As autopsies are to humans, a necropsy is a post-mortem examination of an animal. Led by a pathologist, the necropsy team assists with the examinations that help determine a possible cause of death and collect samples that may be needed for testing.

Submitted animals range from common household pets, such as dogs and cats, to cheetahs, alligators, toucans and other exotic species. No matter the animal, the team’s efforts are invaluable in providing clients with answers to critical animal health questions.

The process of a necropsy begins with the arrival of animal bodies. Technicians begin preparations for the examination process. They make cuts, collect tissue samples from various organs and assist the pathologist in taking notes later used to create a report.

The report may include abnormal discolorations, the weight of each organ or the amount of a particular bodily fluid. It could explain the details of an injury or disease discovered during the examination. Each component of the report helps pathologists determine a possible cause of death.

It takes a special passion for animal and human health to regularly handle blood and organs. The role of a technician in the necropsy section demands a deep-seated respect for life, a passion for animal and human health, and curiosity about the natural world.

Laboratory coordinator Elizabeth Pokos’ interest in nature and science began in her early years. She remembers exploring and recording observations of soil and wildlife with glitter gel pens in colorful, Lisa Frank notebooks in an ironic blend of sparkles and dirt.

“I’ve always been a little science person,” she said. “My oldest notebook was in pencil when I could barely write, but as I entered school it quickly became colorful. I had always wanted to be a veterinarian.”

She began working at TVMDL in 2013 as a student worker.

“Once I came here and saw that there was so much you could do with animals besides just clinical work, it really broadened my horizons.”

Tiffanie Vargas, one of the section’s technicians, has a similar background.

“I’ve also always loved animals since I was younger,” Vargas said. “I came to A&M for undergraduate school because I was interested in going to vet school.”

During her final semester as an undergraduate student, she worked in the necropsy department at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Following graduation, she joined TVMDL’s necropsy section to further her interest.

Megan Ohrt, the section’s newest technician, isn’t fazed by blood. She grew up enjoying hunting trips with her family where her father taught her how to handle a deer carcass properly.

“We process the whole thing ourselves,” Ohrt said. “Handling things like blood is definitely something I am used to because of hunting and growing up in the country.”

In high school, Ohrt began volunteering and working at veterinary clinics. After graduation, she pursued an animal science degree from Texas A&M. After beginning her career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, she joined TVMDL.

“I enjoy advancing my skills and knowledge, as well as interacting with some of the best people I’ve ever worked with,” she said. “I also enjoy that we are truly making a difference by helping people and animals.”

Juan Ramirez, the section’s student worker, began working at TVMDL in April. He remembers helping tend to livestock on his family’s ranch as a child.

“I think ever since I could probably walk, I wanted to go with my dad to our ranch every other weekend,” Ramirez said, adding that he hopes to continue serving animals following graduation.

Lauren Roese, necropsy supervisor, started working at TVMDL in February 2023, bringing seven years of zookeeping experience. She recalls capturing frogs, turtles, crawfish and bugs as a child.

“I have always loved animals and have had pets,” she said. “I tried other areas of employment but did not feel fulfilled until I contributed to animal care and health.”

Roese is responsible for ensuring safety within the lab. Additionally, she tries to encourage a comfortable environment for the technicians.

The team’s passion fuels their resilience and tolerance for challenging aspects within the necropsy section.

“It’s not easy to find people who want to deal with this kind of stuff every day,” Roese said. “They do it with a smile on their face.”

The necropsy team’s interests in biological science and dedication to service drive them to embrace these gruesome tasks with a sense of purpose and commitment.

In addition to other types of testing, necropsies can be used for early detection of unknown disease threats that can potentially impact the food supply. For example, TVMDL’s Canyon laboratory performed necropsies on dairy cattle to help producers determine a cause of sickness, which was later determined to be avian influenza, otherwise known as bird flu.

Necropsies are also valuable in keeping known diseases at bay. TVMDL regularly assists commercial poultry producers with testing to ensure the chickens in the food supply are healthy and disease-free.

TVMDL also regularly assists in determining the cause of death in pets that have died unexpectedly.

“I think helping people find out what happened and knowing that we can provide some comfort to them in this profession is important,” Ohrt said.

She is thankful to be a part of a passionate necropsy team. Ohrt said if she needed a necropsy on her own dog, she would know it was in good hands at the TVMDL.

“I think it’s good to know that we have these lovely people here treating them with love as if it’s their own,” she said.

The results of necropsies can also solve everyday animal health mysteries. Pokos said that one of her favorite lab stories is when a client dropped off a mangy coyote body, insisting that it was a chupacabra.

“They said it was a chupacabra before bringing it in and wanted DNA testing,” Pokos said. “We don’t offer DNA testing, but from the body, we could tell it was just a coyote.”

Despite the unusual request, the necropsy team was delighted to assist the client by providing answers and reassurance.

The necropsy team in College Station plays many important roles in the upkeep of animal and human health. From helping detect zoonotic diseases to reassuring a concerned client that a mangy coyote was indeed not a chupacabra, the team always gets the job done professionally and with genuine care.

“I’ve worked with a lot of different people in this necropsy section, and I think the team right now is the most compassionate we’ve ever had,” Pokos said. “We work really well together; we are like a little family. It’s good to know we have these lovely people here treating these animals with love as if they are our own.”