Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the liver, gall bladder and urogenital tract in female red-eared terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of contrast-enhanced computed tomography for organ morphology and perfusion in five captive terrapins. Native scans were performed and afterwards an iodinated non-ionic contrast media was manually administered through the jugular vein catheter. Post-contrast CT scans were taken 20 (T 20 ), 60 (T 60 ) and 180 (T 180 ) seconds after the contrast medium administration. Maximum contrast enhancement of the kidneys and the liver was detected at T 20 and T 60 , respectively. The gall bladder content, the urinary bladder content and ovarian follicles were all without contrast enhancement in all five terrapins. Gall bladder wall thickness was 0.9 mm in all terrapins. Enhancement of the gall bladder wall in post-contrast studies was considered excellent, good or poor in two terrapins, two terrapins and one terrapin, respectively, with a mean score of 1.8 ± 0.84 over all contrast studies. Enhancement of the ureters in post-contrast studies was considered excellent in all terrapins in all contrast studies. Peak aortic enhancement was reached 20 seconds after contrast medium administration with the peak enhancement of 213.5 ± 41 HU in four terrapins and 560 HU in one terrapin. Peak hepatic vein enhancement after contrast medium administration was recorded 20 and 60 seconds in two and three terrapins, respectively. In conclusion, contrast-enhanced computed tomography proved to be a valuable method for clinical examination of the liver, gall bladder, kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and ovarian follicles in red-eared terrapins.

Association of plasma metabolites and diagnostic imaging findings with hepatic lipidosis in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) and effects of gemfibrozil therapy

“…Although CT has not been used to extensively study reptile livers, it has been used to determine the mean liver density in apparently healthy Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) (50-70 HU), juvenile green sea turtles (Chelodina mydas) (60.09 +/-5.3 HU), red eared sliders (55.78 +/-11.66 HU), Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) (97.5 HU +/-9.6 HU), green iguanas (Iguana iguana) (77.30 +/-6.2 HU), and free-ranging boa constrictors (Boa constrictor) (61.76 +/-7.11 HU) [87][88][89][90][91][92]. In comparison, the mean (+/-SD) HU in this cohort of bearded dragons in the no-lipid-to-mild class was 44.03 +/-11.21 HU.…”

Diagnostik von Nierenerkrankungen bei Europäischen Landschildkröten (Testudo spp.)

“…Neben Ultraschall und Röntgen stellen MRT und CT weitere Möglichkeiten zur bildgebenden Diagnostik dar 54 , 55 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 . Bei der Diagnosestellung kann das CT gegenüber dem Röntgen von Vorteil sein, was die Studie von Keller et al 46 belegt.…”

“…Während das CT sich besonders eignet, um knöcherne Strukturen darzustellen, wird das MRT besonders bei Weichteilgewebe eingesetzt 60 , 61 , 62 . Die Benutzung eines jodhaltigen Kontrastmittels kann bei der Darstellung der Niere und der Ureteren zur Hilfe genommen werden 63 . In der Studie von Gerster et al (64) wird der Vorteil von CT Untersuchung beim Menschen gegenüber MRT und Farbdopplerultraschall dargelegt 64 .…”

“…In der Studie von Gerster et al (64) wird der Vorteil von CT Untersuchung beim Menschen gegenüber MRT und Farbdopplerultraschall dargelegt 64 . Auch in der Reptilienmedizin gibt es einige Studien bei diversen Arten, die verschiedene Fragestellungen unter Nutzung von CT und/oder MRT untersuchten 59 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 67 . Auch Mathes und Fehr 68 zeigten mit Fallberichten die Nützlichkeit des CT bei bestimmten Erkrankungen und deren großen Vorteil in der Diagnostik bei Reptilien 68 .…”

Computed tomography of the coelomic cavity in healthy veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) and panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis)

“…The use of CT studies also allows a better interpretation of the images, above all in the chelonia group, where the shell can hamper the assessment of the coelomic cavity. Information related to normal anatomical descriptions in some species using advanced imaging techniques is limited ( Gumpenberger and Henninger, 2001 ; Sochorcová et al , 2017 ; Sharma and Wyneken, 2019 ). CT has been used in the evaluation of diseases in the skeletal system, respiratory tract, reproductive tract, liver, spleen, and urinary tract in loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta caretta ) ( Arencibia et al , 2006 ; Valente et al , 2007 ), in different snakes species: Python regius, Boa constrictor, Python reticulatus, Morelia viridis, Epicrates cenchria, and Morelia spilota ( Pees et al , 2009 ), in captive green iguanas ( Iguana iguana ) ( Nardini et al , 2014 ), boas ( Boa constrictor ) ( De Souza et al , 2018 ), sea turtles ( Oraze et al , 2019 ), and other species ( Schmidt et al , 2020 ).…”