Anat Cell Biol.  2025 Mar;58(1):99-111. 10.5115/acb.24.159.

Profiles, tissue, and microbial integrity of cadavers used in medical faculties in South-western Uganda: implication in anatomical education

• Ndyamuhakyi E
• Usman IM
• Nabona J
• Fischer VA
• Anyanwu E
• Owembabazi E
• Makena W
• Etukudo EM

• KMID: 2565961
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.159

Abstract

Cadaveric dissection has remained an integral part of anatomical education globally; hence, the profiles of cadavers, their gross tissue and microbial integrity has great implication in anatomical education. This study determined the profiles, gross tissue and microbial integrity of cadavers used in South-western Uganda (SWU) medical schools. A cross-sectional study was carried out for three months in anatomy and microbiology laboratories of SWU medical teaching institutions. Ethical approval was obtained, cadavers were proportionately selected and examined grossly, and surface swabs taken for microbial analysis. Data collected was entered into Microsoft Excel, cleaned, and exported to Stata version 17 for analysis. Majority of cadavers were male (68%), adult (96%), blacks (100%), unknown cause of death (96%), obtained as unclaimed bodies (100%) and with no cadaver record tag (96%). Nearly a half (48%) cadavers had disrupted dentition, 68% had poor muscle integrity and 80% with abnormal fat. About 27% cadavers had poor surface microbial integrity among which 62.5% had a mixture of both bacteria and fungi, 25.0% had only fungi while 12.5% had only bacteria. A high number of cadavers had micro-organisms on their surfaces with majority having a mixture of bacteria and fungi. Majority of cadavers had poor gross tissue integrity. Better cadaver preservation methods should be adopted. To advocate for the establishment of cadaver donation policy and programs through which good quality cadavers can be obtained.

Keyword

Cadaver profiles; Gross tissue integrity; Microbial integrity; Anatomical education

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Cadaver region/sites (A) axilla, (B) nasal cavity, (C) female groin, and (D) male groin from where microbial swabs were collected.

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  Fig. 2 Swabs cultured for microorganism; (A) Fungi g rowing on sabouraud dextrose agar media thus positive, (B) no fungal growth thus negative, (C) bacteria growing on blood agar (BA) media thus positive, and (D) no bacteria growth on BA media thus culture negative.

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  Fig. 3 Presence of micro-organisms on cadaver surfaces.

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  Fig. 4 (A) Alternaria, (B) Aspergillus, (C) Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, (D) Exopharia dermatitis fungal genera identified from cadaver surfaces by use of Lactophenol cotton blue dye staining technique (×400).

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  Fig. 5 (A) Bacillus, (B) Streptobacillus, (C) Staphylococcus, (D) Streptococcus, bacteria species identified from cadaver surfaces by used of gram staining technique (×1,000).

Reference

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