**6. References**


having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists. Official Journal of the European Union, L series, No. 318, 9-11.

<sup>35</sup> EFSA, "EFSA Concludes Review of New Scientific Data on Potential Risks to Human Health from Certain Hormone Residues in Beef," Press Release dated July 18, 2007, Available at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa\_locale-1178620753812\_1178622723847.htm. Accessed August 26, 2011.

having a hormonal or thyreostatic action and of -agonists, to exclude companion animals

In fact, experience gained in particular with national residue plans submitted under Directive 96/23/EC has shown that the misuse of product presentations intended for pet animals does not play a role as a source of abuse or misuse. That is partly because it is economically unattractive to use presentations intended for pet animals for growth

It was considered therefore appropriate to limit the scope of Directive 96/22/EC only to food-producing animals and withdraw the prohibition for pet animals, as well as to adjust

The EU continues to maintain that "there is a lack of data on the type and amount of [growthpromoting hormone] residues in meat on which to make a quantitative exposure assessment" that would change the EU's understanding of the "possible risks to human health" associated with hormone-treated meat and meat products. It claims that this position is supported by a series of commissioned research studies and scientific reviews

The most recent review, conducted in 2007 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), cites evidence supporting that estradiol-17β be considered as a carcinogen, and states that all six hormones may pose endocrine, developmental, immunological, neurobiological, immunotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects, particularly for susceptible risk groups (such as prepubertal children). The toxicological and epidemiological data reviewed by the Commission panels do not allow a quantitative estimate of the risk, leading to the panel's

Based on this series of reviews, the Commission maintains that these reviews "reaffirmed public health concerns about the large scale use of hormones administered to cattle for growth promoting purposes," and therefore "provided the scientific basis for community legislation not allowing the use of hormones for growth promoting purposes in the EU".35

Bahrke, M.S., & Yesalis C.E. (2004). Abuse of anabolic androgenic steroids and related

Bauer, E.R., Daxenberger, A., Petri, T., Sauerwein, H., &Meyer, H.H. (2000). Characterization

having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists. Official Journal of the European Union, L

35 EFSA, "EFSA Concludes Review of New Scientific Data on Potential Risks to Human Health from Certain Hormone Residues in Beef," Press Release dated July 18, 2007, Available at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa\_locale-1178620753812\_1178622723847.htm. Accessed August

substances in sport and exercise. *Current Opinion in Pharmacology*, 4, 614-620, ISSN:

of the affinity of different anabolic and synthetic hormones to the human androgen receptor, human sex hormone binding globulin and to the bovine progestin

conducted by the EU, although there has been no conclusive testing on the issue.

conclusions that no threshold levels can be defined for any of the six hormones

from the prohibition.

**5. Conclusions** 

**6. References** 

series, No. 318, 9-11.

26, 2011.

1471-4892.

promotion in food-producing animals.

the definition of therapeutic treatment.

receptor. *Acta Pathologica Microbiologica et Immunologica Scandinavica*, 108, 838-846, ISSN: 0903-4641.


**1. Introduction**

Veterinary anatomical pathology is a medical specialty which is very similar to human anatomical pathology. This specialty consists in diagnosing diseases based mainly on gross and microscopic examination of organs and tissues obtained by surgical procedure or necropsy. It consists in applying criteria based on knowledge of gross and histological lesions in order to obtain a final pathological diagnosis. The aim of this specific diagnosis is, generally speaking, to find which disease is affecting the animal, if it is alive, or what caused its death. The main difficulties in veterinary pathological diagnosis are related to the various animal species a pathologist has to deal with, the use of exhaustive classifications of different types, costs, subjectivity, including disagreement between the clinical and pathological diagnoses, and the urgency in issuing the report. So, the urgent need to compile all available information to obtain a diagnosis in a short time is the constant challenge professional experts face.

**How Experience Can Be Useful in** 

**Veterinary Pathological Anatomy** 

*1Algoritmi Research Center/Polytechnic Institute of Viseu 2Center for Studies in Education, and Health Technologies,* 

Paulo Tomé1 and Helena Vala2

*CI&DETS, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu* 

**4**

*Portugal* 

Pathology consists in using scientific methods to study structural and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs that underlie disease (Cotran et al., 1999). It is divided into two branches: anatomical pathology, dedicated to examining organs, tissues and cadavers and clinical pathology, dedicated to laboratory analysis of body fluids and/or tissues. The pathologist has the professional expertise devoted to the practice of both, anatomical and

Past knowledge is an important resource in veterinary pathological anatomy. Professionals often use their previous experience (Dungworth et al., 1999; Goldschmidt et al., 1998; Head et al., 2003; Hendrick et al., 1998; Kennedy et al., 1998; Kiupel et al., 2008; Koestner et al., 1999; Maxie, 2007; Meuten et al., 2004; Misdorp et al., 1999; Scott et al., 2001; Slayter et al.,

This chapter will be devoted to veterinary anatomical pathology, not in terms of further development of its study methods, extensively detailed in the specialty bibliography, but from a different approach, with the aim of better understanding routine work in the pathology lab.

<sup>1</sup> The twelve books: (Dungworth et al., 1999; Goldschmidt et al., 1998; Head et al., 2003; Hendrick et al., 1998; Kennedy et al., 1998; Kiupel et al., 2008; Koestner et al., 1999; Meuten et al., 2004; Misdorp et al., 1999; Slayter et al., 1994a; Valli et al., 2002; Wilcock et al., 2002) were published by World Health

clinical pathology (Langone Medical Center, Department of Pathology, 2011).

1994a; Valli et al., 2002; Wilcock et al., 2002)1.

Organization (WHO).

Congress of the European Society for Agricultural and Food Ethics, Florence (Italy), 3-5 October 2001, 483-484.

