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Passive Transponder System (microchip) in veterinary practice: Pet Practitioners Association of Mumbai Bulletin Vol.4 No.1 January 2007

11 Sep 07 04:48:00 GMT

Passive Transponder System (microchip) in veterinary practice

Dr.A.V.Belsare, B.V.Sc &A.H

B-3, 26, Sarita Vaibhav, S.No 119/2, (Part) Parvati, Pune 411 030

anyadoc@gmail.com

Veterinarians are well aware of the need for individual animal identification and its role in effective herd management, tracking/proving ownership, regulatory requirements (CITES), zoo animal management and certain wildlife interventions (IUCN guidelines). Some countries have regulations for importing animals and animals have to be microchipped before importing. This is to ensure that the animal and the vaccination record belong together. Older methods for individual animal identification like branding, tattooing and ear tagging are being replaced by this new technology, Passive Transponder System.

A passive integrated transponder (PIT tag) or RFID (radio-frequency identification) chip or microchip is a small (~size of a rice grain: 2.2 x 12 mm), unobtrusive, inexpensive, biocompatible device, which is given a unique alphanumeric code at the time of manufacture (e.g. 00063B3F95). The animal injectable microchips are supplied in individually packed sterilized needles and are injected with a specially designed injector. With a microchip reader (or scanner), the code on the microchip can be interrogated. The reader activates the transponder electro-magnetically, which then sends the code to the reader. The decoder in the reader processes the code and displays it on the LCD. There are many companies manufacturing microchips and scanners, and a scanner manufactured by one company might not read a microchip manufactured by other company. There is no universal reader, though a multichip reader is available. One has to ensure that appropriate microchip reader(s) are available so that the commonly used/ encountered chips can be read. Settings have to be changed in a multi reader to scan chips of other companies.

The microchip cannot be tampered with and is a permanent, unalterable system that provides a unique code to every animal, thus the risk of fraudulent activities is minimized. Once implanted, the microchip will last throughout the animal's lifetime. A microchip typically lasts at least 25 years.

In most species, with the exception of avian and some reptile species, the transponder microchip is implanted subcutaneously. The actual procedure is as simple as a subcutaneous injection or vaccination and does not require any anesthesia. I normally do this procedure in pups at the time of first vaccination (6 weeks) and most of the pups don't react at all.

No site preparation is necessary, not even rubbing with alcohol swab. Alcohol does nothing to make the skin cleaner; and the needle and the transponder come in a sterilized package.

As a first step, I strongly recommend scanning the animal to ensure that it has not been already microchipped (especially imported dogs) and avoid unnecessary repetition. Scanning should begin at the recommended implantation site and if no chip is detected the alternative site should also be scanned. For example, the global implantation site for dogs is subcutaneously at the base of neck, on the dorsal midline, between the shoulder blades. An alternative site is subcutaneous, midway on the left side of the neck.

The scanner should be held very close to the animal, actually gliding it in contact with the skin or fur. The trigger button has to be held in pressed position throughout each pass. As per the manufacturers guidelines, the following technique should insure 100% data capture:

Make four passes longitudinally from the mid neck to over the shoulders, two on each side of the neck. Make four passes transversely in the same area covering a dorsal arc of 90 degrees.

The scanning should be done for a minimum of 10 seconds and on two consecutive occasions before declaring an animal negative for the presence of a microchip.

Implanting microchip

a) Scan the unopened needle with microchip and write down the alphanumeric code.

b) In case of TROVAN microchips, place the needle assembly on the injector/implanter and lock the implanter. The DESTRON (ISO) microchips come in a ready to use disposable injector.

c) Implantation is just like giving a subcutaneous injection. Remove the needle cap, in a steady motion penetrate the skin and pull the skin fold back over the length of the needle. Unlock the implanter and depress the plunger. Never depress the plunger before the needle is inserted into the animal, otherwise the microchip will be ejected.

d) Withdraw the needle and then let the skin go.

e) Scan the site with the reader to ensure proper placement of the microchip and crosscheck with the written code.

Ensure that the microchip is inserted in the connective tissue below the skin. As the needle is of a large gauge, appropriate care must be taken to prevent injuries. Slight bleeding at the point of injection is not unusual and has to be dealt with in the usual way.

Implanted microchips should be scanned periodically, at least once a year, to ensure proper functioning and to confirm location. Though the newer microchips have antimigrating properties, faulty placement might result in the microchip migrating from the original site of implantation.

At present, TROVAN- ID 100 microchips and TROVAN microchip reader (hand held reader LID 500 and pocket reader LID 571) are available in India with Helpro Health Products & Services (helpro@ sancharnet.in).

ISO chips (DESTRON Technologies) are also available with some breeders.

In India, we need to ensure the following:

1) Standardization of microchip implantation site for various species.

2) Agree on the brands of microchips to be used in animals.

3) Availability of the appropriate scanners at rescue centers, shelters, municipal dog pounds, etc.

4) Setting up a regional and national database, which can be accessed by veterinarians, animal shelters, kennel clubs, etc.

Apart from microchipping pet animals, I have had the opportunity to use this technology in zoo and wild animals. More than 50 wild caught leopards have been microchipped as a part of our research project and this has already provided powerful information, which is helping the Forest Department deal with the Human-Leopard conflict effectively.

For the recommended sites of microchipping in various species, refer www.wsava.org/site1099.htm

References

1) Athreya, V.R. & A.V.Belsare. 2005. Training Maharashtra Forest Department personnel to use chemical restraint and microchips to better manage man-leopard conflict. Report submitted to the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation, U.K.

2) Belsare, A.V., Athreya, V.R., Thakur, S.T. & S.Chaudhuri. 2004.Life-long Identification Microchips in Leopards Caught in Conflict Areas in Maharashtra, India Cat News No.41

3) Trovan User Manual

Picture 1.Scanning for microchip in an immobilized male leopard with a pocket scanner

ÓVidya Athreya

Picture 2. Microchipping a Labrador pup with DESTRON ISO chip.

ÓGauri Nargolkar

Picture 3. Injector, TROVAN microchips, TROVAN pocket reader and DESTRON microchip

ÓGauri Nargolkar

An autobiography. Balbaharati English textbook: Maharashtra State Education Board.pg 88

03 Sep 07 00:45:06 GMT

You look surprised to hear me talk your language. But I have been your guest for the past four years and now I can understand and talk in your tongue fluently. Well, to tell you the truth, I did not accept your hospitality voluntarily and was actually taken a prisoner due to some serious misunderstanding. Though I do not have any hope of being released, I want to tell you my story and try and clear this misunderstanding.

I was born near the historic fort Shivneri and my parents, grand parents, great grand parents, great great grand parents all had been living in that area for ages. My mother was very fond of me and my brothers, and taught us all that was necessary for surviving in this world. Among other things, she taught us how to hunt, what to hunt and most importantly how to avoid you humans. Living close to you for thousands of years, we very well know that avoiding confrontation is the key to successful survival. But sadly none of my brothers survived: a hyena killed one and the other died due to illness. I was the only survivor of the litter.

When my mother was sure that I have learnt the lessons well, she promptly asked me to leave and find myself a new home. I was very keen to prove myself and thus set out eagerly. I walked for sometime and realized that I was close to a village. I immediately decided that there was no point in going any further as it was not dark yet and there were some humans working in a field. So I hid in a nearby bush and was waiting for dark so that I could move on. Suddenly I heard somebody approach and I froze. Two humans were coming towards the bush where I was hiding. I held my breath and didn't move at all. Luckily they did not see me and continued walking. This was my first encounter with humans and I remembered the lessons my mother had taught me. After waiting for some time, I decided to move on. I went on cautiously in the opposite direction avoiding the village. Very soon I found an area that looked ideal for settling down. This area was away from the village with plenty of shrubs and bushes, some trees and a small hill. Food would be easy to find here. But the satisfaction did not last long. My mother had taught me to read messages left by others of our kind and there was such a message. The message said ‘ Beware! You are entering my territory and I will not tolerate this trespassing. Get Out!' I retreated promptly. There was no point in contesting this warning and I moved on. Throughout the night, this was repeated: all the suitable places were already taken by somebody. I realized that finding a territory of my own was not easy. Either I will have to take over somebody's territory by virtue of strength or go further in search of unoccupied territory. But by this time I was tired and very hungry. Luckily enough I stumbled upon a hare and had a hearty meal. I found a place to rest, which was close to a village but not occupied by anybody. This was going to be my temporary home.

In a few days time, I was confident enough to sneak close to the village and the farms at night and find food and water. Occasionally those whose territories were nearby warned me, but I too was growing in strength and confidence and managed to stay there. Also by then I realized that if I survive for another couple of months, I would be able to grab the neighboring territory and then life would be much easier!

But fate had planned things differently! One evening as I was stalking a dog and was about to pounce on the fellow, a small boy saw me and started shouting. I immediately retreated in a nearby sugarcane field, but by then a mob had gathered and surrounded the field. I was very afraid, but managed to hide until dark. I then sneaked out of the field without any of the humans realizing that I had slipped away. They were still searching for me in the field the next morning. As a precautionary measure, I did not venture close to that village for the next few days. I hunted in the neighbor's territory and managed to evade him as well. But after a few days, I decided to go back to my area and see if everything was back to normal. As I approached the village, I saw some new structure below a tree. I took cover in a bush nearby and scrutinized this structure. To my surprise there was a goat tied inside and the door was open! I was about to go and grab the meal, when a warning bell rang in my head. I am not sure why, but I avoided this structure and ventured in the other direction. The same story was repeated after I walked some distance. This time a dog was tied inside and was continuously whining. I decided to wait till it was complete dark.

After a long time, I finally managed to go close to that structure. There were many human smells around, but I was too hungry to pay any heed to the warning bells. For a long time I stood near the opening. The dog too was suddenly silent. As you say in your language, curiosity killed the cat. I entered, and as I grabbed the dog there was a loud noise. Looking back I realized that I was trapped inside. I tried very hard to get out of that structure but to no avail. I tried banging on the bars, biting the bars and even tried to dig a hole. This went on all through the night and the result was that I was badly injured and exhausted. Next morning when finally the humans came and took me away, I could hardly react. Though I tried pleading my case, it had no effect on the humans. Some were throwing stones at me, some were poking me with sticks, a few were flashing light at me and as a result nobody listened to me. I had never attacked any human in my life and had tried really hard to avoid confrontation with humans. Still I was trapped and being taken a prisoner.

I was kept in the trap cage for the next few weeks and then shifted to this rescue center. And guess what, here I met my mother! I learnt from her that she was trapped in a foothold trap put by a hunter. Though she was rescued, the foot was damaged beyond repair and thus she was transferred to this rescue center.

There are many others of our kind here. We get food regularly and do not have to hunt. But none of us want to stay here. Out there is where we belong. Survival outside is difficult, we have to find food, avoid humans, and defend our territories. But that is how we prefer to live, and die.