PATH 2302 3(2-1)

Veterinary General Pathology

Introduction to
Pathology
Dr. Muti-ur-Rehman Khan Niazi
DVM, PhD
Books Recommended

 Robbins Basic Pathology 7th

edition by Kumar, V. ; Cotran,
R.S.; Robbins, S.L.
 Veterinary Pathology by
Jones, T.C.; Hunt, R.D.; King,
N.W.
 General Veterinary Pathology
by J. L. Vegad Second Edition
What is Pathology?

 Pathology is a combination of two words patho=disease

logos =study
 The scientific Study of disease is called pathology
 The study of disease except treatment is called
pathology
What is Pathology?

 The study of structure and function of

the body in disease condition is called
Pathology.
 Pathology deals with the following
questions?
1. What is wrong with the normal?
2. Why and how the wrong has happened?
 The study of molecular, biochemical,
Functional and structural changes in the
cells of the body is called pathology.
Why we study pathology?

 To understand the causation and mechanism of disease

development.
 What is a pathologist?
 A person trained in the mechanisms,morphological
alterations and diagnosis of disease.
Objectives of a Pathologist.

 The objectives of a pathologist are to find out the

lesions,names and interpret them to make a diagnosis
 His main purpose is to help the clinician in arriving at a
correct conclusion for the diagnosis of the disease.
Branches of Pathology

 General pathology
It is concerned with the study of basic
reactions of cells and tissues to abnormal
stimuli that deals with all diseases.
 Systemic pathology
It deals with specific diseases of all organs
of different systems of the body.
 Clinical pathology
It deals with the application of laboratory
methods in the clinical diagnosis of a
disease.
 Chemical pathology
The study of biochemical changes in tissues
and fluids in disease conditions.
 Experimental pathology
It is the study of diseases produced under experimental conditions.
 Reproductive pathology
It is the study of genital organs in various reproductive disorders
 Poultry pathology
It deals with the study of diseases of poultry
Terminology used in
pathology
 Etiology.it refers to the cause of disease.it is of two
types
 Intrinsic (inside)
 Extrinsic (outside)
 symptom. is that which is described by a person not
observed (in human only)
 Clinical sign.which is observed not described by a
person (in animals only)
 Lesion.it is the structural alteration induced in the
cells of the body.(Gross and microscopic)
 Pathogenesis.it is the mechanism of disease
development
 Diagnosis.it is the reasonable conclusion point upon which treatment
,control and preventive measures can be suggested.
 Prognosis .it is the probable outcome of a disease.
 Postmortem/autopsy/necropsy.
examination of the body after death to observe the lesions for diagnosis.
 Autopsy (in humans)
 Necropsy (in animals)
 Biopsy/antemortem examination.it is the removal and
microscopic examination of tissues from the living
body for diagnosis
 Morbid changes. changes that develop before death.
 Postmortem changes. changes that develop after death.
 Morphological changes
The structural alterations in cells or tissues
 Clinical changes
The clinical features (symptoms,signs,course and
prognosis of the disease)
Disease

 French word “Des” (away) “aise” (ease)

 it is a condition in which the individual suffers from

discomfort i.e. not at harmony with its environment.
What is Disease?
 Malfunction of the body is called Disease.

What is Health?
 Normal function of the body is called
Health.
 Lesion
It is the abnormal structural or functional change in the body as a result of
disease and may be detected by gross (necropsy), microscopic
(histopathology) or biochemical methods (clinical pathology).

Pathognomonic lesion

An alternation that indicates without doubt

the cause of a particular disease e.g.
finding of Negri bodies in rabies etc
Pathogenesis
 It is a progressive development of a disease process from its initiation to
conclusion in recovery or death.

 Disease is a dynamic process which progresses from molecular or bio-

chemical alternations to structural (ultrastructural, microscopic and gross
lesions) and to functional changes which are seen as signs and symptoms
of disease.
 Functional

Structural
Pathological
changes Moderate

Time
Diagnosis
 It is the identification of disease through the clinical examination and
application of various laboratory tests.
 A pathological diagnoses should include lesions, etiology (cause)
pathogenesis and clinical consequences.

Prognosis
• It is the estimation of the clinician or
pathologist regarding the expected outcome
of disease like favorable, guarded or grave
ete
 Etiology
 It is a study of the causes of disease.
 An etiologic agent induces cell and tissue injury leading to clinical
manifestations of disease
 There are numerous causes of disease which are divided into

1. Exogenous (Environmental or extrinsic factors)

2. Intrinsic Internal defects
I. Exogenous Factors
(Environmental or extrinsic factors)

A. Physical like

i) Mechanical trauma Cutting trauma,

compression
ii) Electrical injury Lightning, electrocution
(high-voltage current)
iii) Heat Heatstroke, fever,
burns
iv) Cold Frostbite, cold shock
v) Radiant energy UV light, X-irradiation
vi) Pressure Too much or decreased
B.Chemical

i) Biologic toxins Bacterial, fungal

toxins, venoms
ii) Therapeutic toxins Tetracycline etc.
(Iatrogenic, nosocomial)
iii)Pesticides Organophosphates
(parathion)
iv)Herbicides Paraquat,
2, 4-D, dinitrophenols
v) Environmental poisons Metals, nitrates,
C.Biological
i) Acellular agents Viruses, prions
ii) Prokarytoes Bacteria
iii)Eukaryotes Fungi, protozoa,
algae
iv)Metazoan parasites Cestodes,
nematodes,
trematodes, insects

D. External deficiencies
i) Nutritional deficiency Protein, vitamins,
calories
ii) Environmental deficits Water, oxygen,
sunlight
II. Internal defects
A. Host factors (Endogenous, Intrinsic)
Species, breed, age, sex, color, often
act as predisposing causes.
B. Immunologic defects Autoimmune
disease
C. Genetic defects Single mutant gene
to chromosomal breaks
D. Hereditary defects Transmitted from
parents
 Acquired Disease
 Diseases may be acquired by the animal in utro or post-natally

Congenital Disease
• A disease present in the animal at birth. It
may be hereditary or acquired in utro.
Multiple causation theory
 Most diseases result from interaction of intrinsic and extrinsic examples,
tuberculosis, leukemia viruses etc.

Predisposing and exciting causes

 Factors which make a disease more likely to occur e.g. stress, deficiencies
etc.