title: Rhinoceros feet step out of a rule-of-thumb: a wildlife imaging pioneering approach of synchronized computed tomography-digital radiography.
abstract: Currently, radiography is the only imaging technique used to diagnose bone pathology in wild animals situated under "field conditions". Nevertheless, while chronic foot disease in captive mega-herbivores is widely reported, foot radiographic imaging is confronted with scarcity of studies. Numerous hindrances lead to such limited numbers and it became very clear that the traditional perspective on bone imaging in domestic animals based on extensive studies and elaborated statistical evaluations cannot be extrapolated to their non-domestic relatives. For these reasons, the authors initiated a multi-modality imaging study and established a pioneering approach of synchronized computed tomography (CT) and digital radiography (DR), based on X-ray projections derived from three-dimensional CT reconstructed images. Whereas this approach can be applied in any clinical field, as a case of outstanding importance and great concern for zoological institutions, we selected foot bone pathologies in captive rhinoceroses to demonstrate the manifold applications of the method. Several advances were achieved, endowing the wildlife clinician with all-important tools: prototype DR exposure protocols and a modus operandi for foot positioning, advancing both traditional projections and, for the first-time, species-related radiographic views; assessment of radiographic diagnostic value for the whole foot and, in premiere, for each autopodial bone; together with additional insights into radiographic appearance of bone anatomy and pathology with a unique, simultaneous CT-DR correlation. Based on its main advantages in availing a wide range of keystone data in wildlife imaging from a limited number of examined subjects and combining advantages of CT as the golden standard method for bone diseases' diagnostic with DR's clinical feasibility under field conditions, synchronized CT-DR presents a new perspective on wildlife's health management. With this we hope to provide veterinary clinicians with concrete imaging techniques and substantial diagnostic tools, which facilitate straightforward attainment and interpretation of field radiography images taken worldwide.
authors: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Galateanu
authors: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hermes
authors: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Saragusty
authors: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Göritz
authors: ZooParc de Beauval, Saint-Aignan, France.
authors: Romain
authors: R
authors: Potier
authors: ZooParc de Beauval, Saint-Aignan, France.
authors: Baptiste
authors: B
authors: Mulot
authors: Parc zoologique d'Amnéville, Amnéville-les-Thermes, France.
authors: Alexis
authors: A
authors: Maillot
authors: Parc zoologique de La Barben (Pélissane), La Barben, France.
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Etienne
authors: Hospital Veterinário, Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Bernardino
authors: Hospital Veterinário, Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Fernandes
authors: Clinical Application Research Center, Toshiba Medical Systems Europe, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.
authors: Jurgen
authors: J
authors: Mews
authors: Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Thomas Bernd
authors: TB
authors: Hildebrandt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005529:Foot Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*