Abdominal and pelvic ultrasound study of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was the ultrasound characterization of the abdominal and pelvic regions of five maned wolves kept in captivity at the Triage Center of Wild Animals of the Federal University of Viçosa (Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres, Universidade Federal de Viçosa). This characterization included descriptions of ultrasonographic aspects and measurements of various structures using B-mode ultrasound. Biometric data were collected to assess the existence of significant linear correlations between these measurements and the measurements obtained by ultrasound. Additionally, hematological and serum biochemistry evaluations of the animals were performed. The ultrasound findings were similar to those available in the literature on domestic dogs, which were used for comparison as a result of the lack of published data regarding maned wolves. The latter species showed characteristics closely resembling those of the former, differing in the spleen and left renal cortex echogenicities, in the appearance of the prostatic and testicular regions and in the hepatic portal vein morphology. In the current study, the biometric values were similar to those previously published; however, no data regarding thoracic perimeter, modified crown-rump length or thoracic depth were found in the literature for this Canidae species. Statistical analysis showed the existence of a strong negative correlation between the modified crown-rump length and left renal length, between the modified crown-rump length and the right renal volume, between the thoracic perimeter and the height at the cranial pole of the left adrenal gland and between the thoracic perimeter and the height at the caudal pole of the left adrenal gland. Laboratory findings, including segmented neutrophil, eosinophil, monocyte and lymphocyte counts and the serum levels of glucose, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, urea, total protein, globulin, creatine phosphokinase, triglyceride, sodium, phosphate, potassium and chloride, were inconsistent with values found by other authors. The ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging method that must be further explored in the medicine of wild animals; therefore, additional research in this area is required.INDEX TERMS: Maned wolf, abdominal ultrasound, pelvic ultrasound, biometrics. RESUMO.-[Estudo ultrassonográfico abdominal e pél-vico de lobo-guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus).] O presen-

Rescue and rehabilitation of maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in Paraguay: Case description

“…Ultrasound evaluations allow the characterisation of the positioning, dimensions, echogenicity and echotexture of the abdominal and pelvic organs, aiding in the diagnosis through the detection of anatomic, mainly, but also physio-pathologic alterations. The measurements obtained in the present case with regard to the thickness of the stomach walls (Figure 5) and the average thickness of the intestines, as well as the contents of the gall bladder (Figure 4), match the measurements reported by Guimarães et al (2013) in the ultrasound evaluations performed on five adult individuals, where they also refer to the difficulty in visualising the non-gravid uterus. Another work reports a bladder teratoma found through ultrasound evaluation (Fox et al, 2019).…”

Estrus Cycle Monitoring in Wild Mammals: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Regarding carnivores, the ultrasound was useful to characterize the ovaries of maned wolf (C. brachyurus) in captivity. In this species, the description of the ovaries (mean 1.02 cm length and 0.67 cm width) and follicles (mean 1.12 cm length and 0.32 cm width) is similar to that reported for domestic bitches [93].…”

Reproduction in South American wild canids—A review

“…During proestrus, there is vaginal swelling and secretions, as well as increases in social solicitatious behavior ( 94 ). In an ultrasonographic survey, the ovaries were ~1.10 cm long and ~0.7 cm wide, although the uterus was not visualized ( 97 ). In this species, there is also evidence that ovulation is induced and only occurs in the presence of the male ( 98 ), probably triggered by specific volatile organic compounds present in male urine ( 99 ), as several volatile organic compounds present in the urine of male Maned wolf are considered semiochemicals ( 100 ).…”

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