This document discusses various diagnostic imaging techniques for wildlife including radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopy, and advanced imaging like CT and MRI. It provides details on radiographic and ultrasound equipment needs, restraint techniques, positioning of different types of animals, and normal versus abnormal anatomy. Radiographic abnormalities for various systems and species are illustrated. The value of ultrasonography and endoscopy for diagnostic purposes is also covered.

1. Diagnostic Imaging
Considerations for Wildlife
Mark A. Mitchell DVM, MS, PhD
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine

2. Diagnostic imaging
 Non-invasive
 Radiography
 Ultrasonography
 Advanced imaging (CT, MRI)
 Semi-invasive/Invasive
 Endoscopy

3. Introduction
 Diagnostic imaging
 Underutilized
 Thorough diagnostic
work-up
 Getting started:
 learn anatomy
 restraint and
anesthesia
 positioning techniques
 Practice, practice,
pratice

4. Radiographic Equipment
 Machine should be
capable of:
 short exposure time:
1/60 or faster
 high mA- capacity
(>300): better detail
 KvP range: 40-100
 bone less radiopaque
than mammals
 2 kVp incremental
change

5. Radiographic equipment
 Dental
radiographs

6. Radiographic equipment
 Digital radiography

8. Radiographic Equipment
 Film and screens
 High-detail, rare-earth
 Kodak Ektascan EM-1
 gray film
 single emulsion
 slow speed
 more detail
 Kodak T-Mat TML
 black film
 double emulsion
 fast speed
 less detail
 use appropriate size

9. Restraint and Immobilization
 Manual vs. Chemical Restraint
 Manual restraint
 physical restraint
 increases stress
 restraint devices
 tubes
 “blinders”

10. Chemical restraint

11. Positioning-Birds and Mammals
 Standard
 Dorsoventral or
Ventrodorsal
 Lateral

12. Positioning-Reptiles
 Chelonians
 dorsoventral
 tortoise in prone
position
 measure thickest point
between carapace and
plastron

13. Positioning-Reptiles
 Chelonians
 Lateral
 Horizontal beam
 place tortoise on
sponge
 cassette in vertical
position
 Vertical beam
 fasten tortoise to
cassette and position
animal in vertical
position

14. Positioning-Reptiles
 Chelonians
 Craniocaudal
 Horizontal beam
 tortoise on sponge
 cassette placed
vertically and behind
tortoise
 Vertical
 fasten tortoise to
cassette

15. Avian Radiographic Anatomy
 Respiratory System
 Trachea
 Syrinx
 Lungs
 Air Sacs
 Interclavicular, thoracic,
and abdominal air sacs

16. Avian Radiographic Anatomy
 Cardiovascular
System
 Heart
 right-sided aortic arch
 ascending aorta
 pulmonary arteries
 caudal vena cava

17. Avian Radiographic Anatomy
 Gastrointestinal tract
 Crop
 Esophagus
 Proventriculus
 Ventriculus
 Small intestine
 duodenum
 Cloaca

18. Avian Radiographic Anatomy
 Viscera
 Liver
 “hour-glass”
 Spleen
 Kidneys
 Gonads
 obvious during
breeding periods

19. Avian Radiographic Anatomy
 Skeletal
 Clavicles
 Coracoids
 Appendages
 Normal anatomy

20. Avian Radiographs
 Contrast radiographs
 deliver suspension into
crop
 Iohexal (25-30 mg/kg)
 2x as fast as barium
 every 15 minutes
 radiograph over 2-3
hour period

21. Radiographic Abnormalities

22. Radiographic Abnormalities

23. Radiographic Abnormalities

24. Radiographic Abnormalities

25. Radiographic Abnormalities

26. Chelonian Radiographic Anatomy

27. Chelonian Radiographic
Anatomy

28. Chelonian Radiographic Anatomy

29. Radiographic Abnormalities

30. Radiographic Abnormalities

31. Radiographic Abnormalities

32. Radiographic Abnormalities

33. Radiographic Abnormalities

34. Radiographic Abnormalities

35. Radiographic Abnormalities

36. Radiographic Anatomy

37. Radiographic Anatomy

38. Radiographic Anatomy

39. Radiographic Anatomy

40. Mammal Radiographic Anatomy
 Heart
 Point of elbow
 Mustelids
 Caudal to elbow
 Globoid
 Gastrointestinal tract
 Splenomegaly
 Kidneys
 2 lumbar vertebrae
 adrenal glands
 Urinary system
 Barium: 15 ml/kg, 20% solution

41. Radiographic Abnormality

42. Radiographic Abnormality

43. Radiographic Abnormality

44. Rodent and Rabbit Radiographic
Anatomy
 Teeth
 Tympanic bullae
 Respiratory tract
 reduced size
 Gastrointestinal tract
 prominent cecum
 Urogenital system
 Skeleton

45. Ultrasonography
 Value?
 Anatomic size
 Location
 Architecture
 Organs
 Heart
 Liver
 Reproductive
 Bladders
 Kidneys
 GI
 Post-radiographs
 Overall sensitivity?

46. Ultrasound

48. Pre-follicular

49. Endoscopy
 Diagnostic imaging?
 Additional benefits
beyond imaging
 Biopsies
 More invasive
 General anesthesia

50. Endoscopy
 Rigid endoscopes
 Sizes
 Procedures
 Coelioscopy
 Cloacoscopy
 Upper respiratory
 Oral
 Aural

51. Endoscopic sexing

52. Endoscopic sexing

53. Endoscopy
 Flexible endoscopes
 Sizes: variable
 Respiratory tract
 Gastrointestinal tract
 Upper
 Foreign body removal
 Biopsies
 Lower
 Cloacoscopy
 Examine dystocia
 Cystoscopy