Radiographic pelvimetry in free-ranging Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) from Switzerland

Abstract

The observation of pelvic anomalies in two Eurasian lynx (subspecies Lynx lynx carpathicus) from a population reintroduced to Switzerland raised the question of the frequency of such anomalies, but no anatomical reference values were available for comparison. This study aimed at providing baseline data on the pelvic morphology of Carpathian lynx from Switzerland, and at detecting potential pelvic anomalies. Measurements of 10 pelvic parameters were performed on the radiographs of 56 lynx taken from 1997–2015. Two ratios (vertical diameter/acetabula; sagittal diameter/transversal diameter) and two areas (pelvic outlet and inlet) were calculated to describe pelvic shape. The results showed that the Eurasian lynx has a mesatipellic pelvis, with a pelvic length corresponding to approximatively 20% of the body length. We found growth-related pelvis size differences among age classes and evidence of sexual dimorphism in adults: two parameters reflecting pelvic width were larger in females, likely to meet the physiological requirements of parturition. By contrast, pelvis length, conjugata vera, diagonal conjugata, sagittal diameter, and tendentially also vertical diameter, were larger in males, in agreement with their larger body size. Outliers were found in five individuals but apparently without clinical significance. Extreme values were likely due to inter-individual differences and the limited sample size rather than to possible congenital or developmental pathological morphology of the pelvic cavity. We present baseline data of the pelvic morphology, including growth and sexual dimorphism, which may be useful for health monitoring and for determination of age and sex in skeletal remains of Carpathian lynx.

Sex determination in budgerigars using radiographic pelvimetry

“…However, studies in the literature have demonstrated the use of height/width ratio measurements in other animals. For example, in dogs (Campos et al, 2019), cats (Celimli et al, 2008;Monteiro et al, 2013), lynxes (Morend et al, 2022) and agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha) bred under human care (Ferraz et al, 2022), height/width ratio measurement parameters have been derived using linear measurement values obtained from pelvimetric X-ray images. In the current study, it was observed that all length/width ratio measurements, except for the L10/L11 ratio, were significantly higher in males compared to females.…”

“…Moreover, these obtained osteometric data offer significant insights into crucial scientific fields, including evolutionary studies, developmental research and forensic sciences (Pitakarnnop et al., 2017 ; Yilmaz & Demircioglu, 2021 ). It is especially important to examine the morphometric and morphological features of the pelvis in birds, to determine the phylogenic and allometric characteristics of bird species, to reveal their locomotor behaviour, to determine their ecological diversity, to control the healthy laying of eggs and to evaluate various congenital or acquired pathological changes related to the pelvis region (Frank et al., 2022 ; Reddy & Sivajothi, 2018 ; Rosen, 2012 ; Shatkovska et al., 2018 ). In recent years, significant advancements in computer technologies have led to the utilization of various medical imaging techniques for examining the anatomical structures of exotic pet animals.…”

“…Among these methods, radiography holds particular importance (Klever et al., 2022). Radiography finds extensive application in poultry as well as many other animals (Reddy & Sivajothi, 2018; Rosen, 2012; Sathyamoorthy et al., 2020). It is widely used in the diagnosis of many cases, such as hernia, tumours, ectopic eggs, fractures, lipoma, ovarian cystic hyperplasia, oophoritis and egg retention in pet birds (Durmus, 2022; Kılıcarslan, 2012; König et al., 2016; Krautwald‐Junghanns et al., 2011; Kubiak, 2020).…”

Exploring the epidemiological role of the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii

“…In the case of the young lynx with the novel genotype, T. gondii cysts were also detected in the heart but they were not associated with inflammatory reaction. This animal was an orphan in a wildlife rescue centre that died of a severe purulent peritonitis with concomitant Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection (Morend et al, 2022). This infection may have happened either via preying on rodents or eating contaminated food.…”