Normal echoanatomy of the red-eared slider terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans )

Diagnostic Imaging of the Reptile Urinary System

Reptiles can develop various diseases of the urinary tract, including, but not exclusively, urolithiasis, gout, acute and chronic kidney injury, and secondary renal hyperparathyroidism. Diagnostic imaging is instrumental in differentiating and diagnosing these ailments. This article describes the current diagnostic imaging approaches used in reptile medicine for evaluation of urinary tract disease. The use of radiographs, ultrasonography, computed tomography, MRI, and endoscopy is discussed and compared for the evaluation of urinary tract disease in reptiles.

Ultrasonographic appearance of the coelomic cavity organs in healthy veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis)

Veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) are the most popular chameleons over the world, and consequently, two of the most frequent species presenting to veterinary practices. However, published studies on normal ultrasonographic anatomy for these lizards are currently lacking. The objectives of this prospective anatomic study were to develop an ultrasound protocol for evaluation of the coelomic cavity in these species and describe the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the coelomic organs. Seventeen healthy veiled chameleons and 15 healthy panther chameleons were included. A linear 18 MHz transducer was used. Chameleons were sedated and restrained in right lateral recumbency by an assistant. Longitudinal and transverse images were acquired, and authors recorded qualitative and quantitative ultrasonographic characteristics of the coelomic structures. The kidneys, liver, caudal vena cava, hepatic veins, portal vein, gallbladder, wall of the stomach and intestine, gonads and, when distended, urinary bladder could be visualized during ultrasonography of the coelomic cavity in both species. The spleen, pancreas, and adrenal glands could not be identified. Findings from the current study supported the use of ultrasonography for veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) with suspected intracoelomic diseases and provided normal reference information for future studies of these chameleon species.

Echocardiographic evaluation of four giant Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Objectives

In recent years echocardiography has become a good diagnostic tool in Zoo Medicine but in some cases, it is still a challenge. In Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) the big size of animals and the few individuals hosted in Zoo are critical points for the application of this diagnostic technique.The purposes of this research were: to evaluate the feasibility of the diagnostic imaging technique on big-sized turtles; to define the echographic parameters for this species; and to describe the morphofunctional and physiological echographic characteristics of their cardiovascular system.

Design

Repeated measures in vivo.

Setting

Ultrasonography systematic description and Doppler analysis of the cardiovascular system of Aldabra giant tortoise were carried out; B-mode examination allowed the evaluation of the kinetics of the ventricle, the atria and the atrioventricular valves.

Participants

4 Aldabra giant tortoises (two adult males and two young females) hosted in two zoological gardens.

Interventions

Echocardiography was performed placing the animals in ventral on a restraining platform raised from the floor, to provide adequate accessibility to the thoracic windows where the probe was placed. No chemical restraint was used.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Heart rate, systolic and diastolic areas and volumes, vessel diameters and blood flow velocity were measured.

Results

Heart rate was 21±4 bpm (range 14-25 bpm). The averages of the diastolic and systolic area indexes linked to the subject weight were: 21±3 cm² and 9±1 cm².The aortic annulus diameter in female specimens measured 11.2±0.8 mm, while it measured 21.5±0.3 mm in male species.

Conclusion

Results confirm the effectiveness of echocardiography as a means to study and evaluate the cardiovascular system of this species even if more studies on a bigger number of patients would be necessary to develop the echocardiography technique.

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DETECTION OF INGESTED FISHING LINES IN LOGGERHEADS ( CARETTA CARETTA)

Loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta) are among the most frequent victims of bycatch in drifting longlines, and the ingestion of fish hooks and fishing lines is one of the most frequent causes of death of sea turtles. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether coelomic ultrasound (US) can be decisive, not only for diagnosis but also to optimize surgical planning based on preoperative evaluation of the bowel conditions and, in addition, to see if there are characteristic sonographic findings in sea turtles associated with the ingestion of fishing lines. Physical examination, hematology, blood chemistry, radiographs, and US examination were performed in 37 loggerhead sea turtles with suspected or known ingestion of fish hooks or monofilament fishing lines. During the ultrasonographic examinations, the loggerhead sea turtles were placed in dorsal recumbency and the prefemoral left and right acoustic windows were used. Nine wild loggerheads had sonographic findings of intestinal and coelomic abnormalities, and the sonographic images were compared with the surgical findings. Ultrasonography positively identified the foreign body in 89% (8/9) animals. The presence of intestinal plication (in all loggerhead turtles) and ultrasonographic visualization of the linear foreign body was always consistent with the ingestion of a fishing line. In sea turtles, fishing lines cause a corrugated appearance in the small intestine due to increased/unproductive peristalsis. The affected small bowel loops are usually dilated with fluid. In the present study, coelomic US allowed us to make a thorough evaluation of the characteristics, number, and severity of the bowel wall lesions in the animals, thus ensuring the planning of a correct surgical procedure. We suggest that US examination of the coelomic cavity should be complementary to radiographic survey in cases of suspected ingestion of fish hooks and fishing lines by sea turtles.

Contrast echocardiography for analysis of heart anatomy in tortoises

OBJECTIVE

The cardiac anatomy in tortoises depicted on B-mode and color-Doppler should be better differentiated by additional contrast-echocardiography.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An intravenous contrast agent (INN-sulphur hexafluoride [SonoVue®]) was injected in four tortoises (three Testudo hermanni, one Agrionemys horsfieldii), via the coccygeal vein, with parallel B-mode echocardiographic examination. The results of the contrast-enhanced echocardiography were compared with the contrast-free B-mode recordings and color-Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

The use of SonoVue® enabled clearer distinction of the cardiac structures, differentiation of the arising major arteries, identification of wash-out-shunts, and visualization of blood flow patterns throughout the tortoise heart.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study enables the accurate depiction and differentiation of cardiac anatomy in tortoises through the use of a combination of B-mode, color-Doppler and contrast-echocardiography. Basic knowledge of blood flow in the reptile heart is essential to understand echocardiographic anatomy. Blood-flow-patterns and anatomy of the tortoise heart as found in this study will help to establish a basis for further echocardiographic examinations of these animals.

Observation of reproductive cycle of female yellow-margined box turtle (Cuora flavomarginata) using radiography and ultrasonography

This study presents a combination of radiography and ultrasonography to observe the reproductive cycle of 24 captive female yellow-margined box turtles in Taiwan. Radiography was mainly used to monitor clutch size, whereas ultrasonography was applied to detect changes in the follicles throughout the year. The observation of the 24 female turtles was performed from April 2007 to June 2008. Their average carapace length was 16.62 ± 1.66 cm and their average body weight was 812 ± 164.98 g. The mean clutch size was three (87 eggs/29 clutches) and the reproductive frequency was 95.83% (23/24). Double clutches were detected in 79.2%, and 20.8% had single clutches. Ovulation occurred from March through August, and the average follicular diameter was 2.16 ± 0.18 cm. Follicles entered the latent period in October (at 1.54 ± 0.26 cm), and vitellogenesis of the next reproductive cycle began in November. Using radiography, the eggshell could be detected on the ninth day after ovulation. The average period of the single clutch group was 6.9 weeks (range 5.1-8.5 weeks). In the double clutch group, the average period of the first clutch was 5.5 weeks (range 4-7.8 weeks) and that of the second clutch was 5.2 weeks (range 4-7.8 weeks). This study has advanced the understanding of reproductive physiology of yellow-margined box turtle and established a valuable and practical model for comparative study of the reproductive physiology of other chelonians.

Comparative renal anatomy of exotic species

All living organisms consume nutrients that are required for the production of both tissue and energy. The waste products of this process include nitrogenous materials and inorganic salts. They are removed from the body by excretory organs, which in vertebrate shave developed into kidneys and into salt glands in some birds and reptiles. Many invertebrates use a series of excretory organs called nephridia to perform the same function. Even though they perform similar functions, there is no evolutionary connection between invertebrate nephridia and vertebrate kidneys. Both evolved independently.