Research overview: necropsy and pathology standards in felid disease investigation

Careful necropsy and pathological examination underpin much of what is known about causes of death and disease in wild felids. This overview surveys the role of standardized post-mortem investigation in diagnosing conditions from distemper and tuberculosis to mange and trauma, the value of histopathology and tissue archiving, and the challenges of working with carcasses recovered from the field. It examines how pathology distinguishes infectious disease from other mortality factors, supports surveillance, and feeds into molecular and toxicological analyses. The synthesis connects classic veterinary pathology to wildlife epidemiology. It aims to help readers understand that behind many headline findings about felid disease lies meticulous examination of tissues, and that consistent necropsy standards are essential for comparing causes of death across populations and over time.