This study aimed to determine the ultrasonographic features and reference values of the abdominal anatomy in mixed-breed dwarf rabbits. Complete abdominal ultrasonographic examination was performed in 21 mixed-breed rabbits (12 males and 9 females) referred for examination to the Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, Italy. All animals were sedated during the procedure. The ultrasonographic anatomy of the abdomen was determined, including measurement (mean±SD) of the right kidney (length 2.87±0.34 mm; width 1.62±0.17 mm; height 1.66±0.14 mm) and left kidney (length 2.86±0.33 mm; width 1.72±0.19; height 1.58±0.15 mm), left adrenal gland (width 0.38±0.11 mm; length 0.71±0.14), right adrenal gland (width 0.34±0.08 mm; length 0.73±0.15 mm) and thickness of the walls of the stomach (0.10±0.01 mm), pylorus (0.28±0.04 mm), duodenum (0.19±0.04 mm), sacculus rotundus (0.22±0.06 mm), caecum (0.08±0.01 mm), appendix (0.19±0.04 mm), spiral loop of the ascending colon (0.14±0.04 mm) and distal colon (0.10±0.02 mm). A significant positive correlation between bodyweight and kidney size, adrenal gland length, stomach wall and sacculus rotundus wall was detected.

Results suggested that use of the human PBGM evaluated in this study would be acceptable for point-of-care testing of blood glucose concentration in rabbits when benchtop analyzers are not available. The use of the veterinary PBGM evaluated in this study may alter both treatment and diagnostic decisions because of the overestimation of glucose concentrations in some rabbits.

BackgroundRadiology and computed tomography are the most commonly available diagnostic tools for the diagnosis of pathologies affecting the head and skull in veterinary practice. Nevertheless, accurate interpretation of radiographic and CT studies requires a thorough knowledge of the gross and the cross-sectional anatomy. Despite the increasing success of reptiles as pets, only a few reports over their normal imaging features are currently available. The aim of this study is to describe the normal cadaveric, radiographic and computed tomographic features of the heads of the green iguana, tegu and bearded dragon.Results6 adult green iguanas, 4 tegus, 3 bearded dragons, and, the adult cadavers of : 4 green iguana, 4 tegu, 4 bearded dragon were included in the study. 2 cadavers were dissected following a stratigraphic approach and 2 cadavers were cross-sectioned for each species. These latter specimens were stored in a freezer (−20°C) until completely frozen. Transversal sections at 5 mm intervals were obtained by means of an electric band-saw. Each section was cleaned and photographed on both sides. Radiographs of the head of each subject were obtained. Pre- and post- contrast computed tomographic studies of the head were performed on all the live animals. CT images were displayed in both bone and soft tissue windows. Individual anatomic structures were first recognised and labelled on the anatomic images and then matched on radiographs and CT images. Radiographic and CT images of the skull provided good detail of the bony structures in all species. In CT contrast medium injection enabled good detail of the soft tissues to be obtained in the iguana whereas only the eye was clearly distinguishable from the remaining soft tissues in both the tegu and the bearded dragon.ConclusionsThe results provide an atlas of the normal anatomical and in vivo radiographic and computed tomographic features of the heads of lizards, and this may be useful in interpreting any imaging modality involving these species.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic studies of the coelomic cavity in four green iguanas, four black and white tegus and four bearded dragons were performed using a conventional CT scanner. Anatomical reference cross sections were obtained from four green iguana, four black and white tegu and six bearded dragon cadavers; the specimens were stored in a À20°C freezer for 24 h then sliced into 5-mm intervals. The frozen sections were cleaned with water and photographed on both sides. The individual anatomical structures were identified by means of the available literature; these were labelled first on the anatomical images and then matched to the corresponding computed tomography images. The results provide an atlas of the normal cross-sectional and computed tomographic anatomy of the coelomic cavity in the green iguana, the black and white tegu and the bearded dragon, which is useful in the interpretation of any imaging modality.

No abstract