Magnetic resonance imaging study in a normal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris) stifle joint

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to describe the normal appearance of the bony and soft tissue structures of the stifle joint of a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris) by low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the use of gross anatomical dissections performed as anatomical reference. A cadaver of a mature female was imaged by MRI using specific sequences as the Spin-echo (SE) T1-weighting and Gradient-echo (GE) STIR T2-weighting sequences in sagittal, dorsal and transverse planes, with a magnet of 0.2 Tesla. The bony and articular structures were identified and labelled on anatomical dissections, as well as on the magnetic resonance (MR) images.ResultsMR images showed the bone, articular cartilage, menisci and ligaments of the normal tiger stifle. SE T1-weighted sequence provided excellent resolution of the subchondral bones of the femur, tibia and patella compared with the GE STIR T2-weighted MR images. Articular cartilage and synovial fluid were visualised with high signal intensity in GE STIR T2-weighted sequence, compared with SE T1-weighted sequence where they appeared with intermediate intensity signal. Menisci and ligaments of the stifle joint were visible with low signal intensity in both sequences. The infrapatellar fat pad was hyperintense on SE T1-weighted images and showed low signal intensity on GE STIR T2-weighted images.ConclusionsMRI provided adequate information of the bony and soft tissues structures of Bengal tiger stifle joints. This information can be used as initial anatomic reference for interpretation of MR stifle images and to assist in the diagnosis of diseases of this region.

Comparative Morphological Studies of the Stifle Menisci in Donkeys, Goats and Dogs

“…29 The meniscofemoral ligament connected the caudal pole of the lateral meniscus with the intercondyloid fossa of the femur. The similar observations were recorded in all animal species 25,29,33,39,42…”

“…In general, the normal medial and lateral menisci were smooth, white and located between the two condyles of the femur and tibia to improve joint adaptation. 2,4,5,9,10,33 In the examined donkey and goat, the meniscal ligaments included the cranial and caudal ligaments of the medial and lateral menisci and the meniscofemoral ligament of the lateral meniscus, similar to that observed by 26,34,35 in horse, 36,37 in ovine, 27 in camel and 4 in humans, sheep and rabbits. In the dog, the cranial ligament of the medial meniscus was absent, and the medial meniscus had no bony attachment to the tibia, but it was attached to the transverse intermeniscal ligament, which connected the cranial horn of the medial meniscus to the cranial ligament of the lateral meniscus.…”

Anatomic Study of the Elbow Joint in a Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Gross Dissections

“…Nevertheless, the small risk degree which its application entails might allow us to justify its use in these endangered species. With developing technology in zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centres, MRI is a promising, noninvasive, and accurate method for tiger imaging [17][18][19][20][21]. Our research provides the first anatomical description of the elbow in a Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) via low-field MRI.…”

“…In tigers, anatomical and clinical studies via MRI are limited. To our knowledge, MRI has been only used to describe the normal anatomic features of the stifle and tarsus joints [17,18], as well as brain characteristics [19]. Also, previous reports describing several neurological disorders have been published on this species [20,21].…”

Anatomical, Radiological and Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Normal Stifle Joint in Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes)

“…Three joint sacs communicated together in the fox, large femoropatellar sac and two femorotibial sacs were similar to dog [7], goat [11], sheep [12], buffalo [13] and in the rabbit [14], except that's recorded by [10] in the horse, the femoropatellar joint sac communicated only to the medial femorotibial joint sac. A single patellar ligament between the apex of the patella and tibial tuberosity present in the fox, as recorded by [2,7] in dog, [11] in goat, [15] in Bengal tiger, [14] in rabbit, while a three patellar ligaments was found in the stifle, in equines and ruminants [10,16] in march deer used less widely in the field of veterinary medicine, the main reasons were the cost and the animal needed a general anesthesia. In our study, the anatomical structures as ligaments and tendons that entered in the formation of the fox stifle could be easily seen by MRI scanning, collateral ligaments, patellar ligament, tendon of long digital extensor muscle, that's could not be seen by a radiology similar where reported by [20] in canines and [21] in equine.…”