Veterinary pathology investigates the responses of animals and their bodies to stimuli and pathogens. Important methods include macroscopic and microscopic postmortem examinations of dead animals as well as analysis of animal tissue and cell samples. Research focuses on increasing understanding of the causes and mechanisms of disease.
Pathology is an advanced field of clinical veterinary medicine. In clinical work, it is vital for both individual treatment and population health and welfare to identify pathogens and disease processes and establish a prognosis.
Diagnostic services available in veterinary pathology and parasitology include postmortem examinations and the determination of the cause of death of domestic animals, the histopathological examination of tissue biopsies, and the analysis of cytological samples.
Research in parasitology concentrates on zoonotic parasites causing disease in humans and animals as well as parasites in companion and hobby animals. Collaborative projects are also conducted with the Finnish Food Authority on parasites in wild animals, reindeer and fish.
Pathological and parasitological diagnosis requires samples of animal patients. Following diagnosis, parts of such samples may remain available, and it may be appropriate to store them for research, educational and reference purposes. Diagnostic results can also be used retrospectively in research drawing on data stored in medical records software.
Samples and animal patient data are stored and analysed securely. When analysed for research or teaching purposes, samples are handled without disclosing the owners’ or animals’ identities to third parties, and owners’ names and other personal details are excluded from any published results. If samples are delivered to an external party (e.g., for research or reference use), any animal and owner identifiers are removed.
The potential later use of samples or previous results does not always directly benefit the animal patients in question, nor is such use reported separately to the owners. However, all animal data are valuable for scientific research and teaching and can thus benefit future animal patients.