Introduction
Early investigation revealed that several bodies have already drawn up recommended implantation sites for particular species or groups of species. An attempt has been made to include these recommendations in the list below.
Particular attention has been given to the points mentioned at the meeting in Edinburgh:
·
Implantation sites for birds
·
Implantation sites for food producing species
·
Implantation sites for companion animals
Special recommendations have been made for implantation sites to be used in particular applications. For example it has been recommended that primates kept in cages should be implanted in the back of the hand so that the devices can be most conveniently read while the animal grips the bars of the cage by the operator.
Similarly, the recommendation has been made that big cats should be implanted in the shoulder region so that they can be read as they walk backwards and forwards brushing against the bars of their cage.
Such sites are very different from the implantation sites recommended for general use by other operators.
These unusual sites should only be used in animals which (after implantation) will stay in one facility where the site of the transponder is known to all operators and there is no risk of the devise being missed bv a worker failing to scan the unusual location.
Recommended sites
In bilaterally symmetrical species microchips should be implanted in the left side.
Amphibians - lymphatic cavity.
Implantation site should be sealed with tissue glue
Birds
> 1.5Kg adult weight and/or long legged - subcutaneously at the base of the neck.
<1.5 Kg adult weight - intramuscular in the pectoral muscle at the left hand side at the thickest part of the muscle.Direct implanter in a caudal (downwards) direction.
Use tissue glue, digital pressure or a suture to seal the hole made by the implant device.
Ratites
up to four days old -in the pipping muscle.
Penguins
subcutaneously at the base of the neck
Vultures
subcutaneously at the base of the neck
Fish
>30 cm long - left side - anterior base of the dorsal fin
<30cm long - left side - coelomic cavity
Reptiles
Chelonia
left hind limb socket
Use a subcutaneous site in small Chelonia, an intramuscular technique in large species and small species with thin skin.. The injection site should be sealed with tissue glue. Hibernating species should be implanted several weeks before the end of their active season in order to allow wound healing before hibernation.
Crocodilians
subcutaneously - anterior to the nuchal cluster
Lizards
>12.5cm snout to vent length - subcutaneously - left inguinal region<
< 12.5cm snout to vent length - intracoelomic
Snakes
subcutaneously - on the left side of the neck - twice the length of the head from the tip of the nose.
Mammals
Dogs and Cats
subcutaneously between the scapulae (shoulder blades)
Horses
into the ligamentum nuchac midway between the ears and the scapulae (shoulder blades)
Elephants
subcutaneously on left side of tail in main caudal fold
Hyrax
subcutaneously on left side of intralumbar area
Loris
subcutaneously on left side of intralumbar area
Other mammals
> 17cm backbone to shoulder blade distance in an adult - subcutaneously at the base of the left ear.
¼ 17 cm backbone to shoulder blade distance in an adult - between shoulder blades.
In species likely to be used for meat production - subcutaneously at the base of the ear on the scutiform cartilage.
Adverse Reactions
Various veterinary bodies throughout the world have agreed to co-operate in the gathering of reports of adverse reactions to implanted microchip identification devises. Such adverse reactions might include:
Reports should be made on a standard form. Copies of the reporting form can be obtained from:
Kingsley House
Church Road
Shurdington
0L51 5TQ
UK
Phone 0044 242 862994
Fax 0044 1242 863009
e-mail adminoff@bsava.demon.co.uk
Completed forms should be returned to the same address for analysis.
Acknowledgements
Many people and organisations have provided help in drawing up this list and I would like to thank them for their assistance.
In particular the following members of WG3:
·
Ted Donelan - Australia·
David Clemons - Canada
·
David Bachelor- UK
and also:
Andrew Greenwood - Internation Zoo Veterinary Group Animalcare - York
Anna Meredith - British Veterinary Zoological Association Avid-UK
Barbara Horsfield - Australian Veterinary Association
Brendan Godley - Marine Turtle Research Group
David Taylor - International Zoo Veterinary Group
Derek Lyon - British Veterinary Zoological Association
Frances Harcourt Brown
Fred Frye - University of California at Davies
Gerhard Adams - Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit
Grigori Anissimov
Keith Myhre - InfoPET Identification Systems
N. Kummerfeld - Merial GmbH Deutschland
Neil Forbes
Nigel Harcourt Brown
Jeff Schmid - National Marine Fisheries Service
Jenna Borovansky - Conservation Breeding Specialist Group
Johan Chevalier
Jordbruks Verket - Sweden
Jürgen Frisch - Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der Landwirtschaft e.v.
Martin Lawon - Exotic Animal Centre
Rony Geers
Steven Divers - Exotic Animal Centre
Susan Elbin -New York Zoological Park
Vibeke Knudsen - Dansk Hunderegister
Walt Ingwersen - Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
