I’m new to the Cincinnati Zoo however know that, through the years, MedVet has helped us with instances that required extra subtle imaging gear than what we’ve got on the Zoo. We’re grateful for his or her continued assist and collaboration.
Most not too long ago, we took Bell, a 12-year-old feminine Screaming Furry Armadillo to MedVet for a CT (Computed Tomography) scan. She had indicators of a nosebleed and clear nasal discharge on the finish of September, she additionally grew to become torpid and was not consuming properly. We did an examination on the zoo hospital and weren’t in a position to pinpoint a definitive trigger.
Armadillos have dermal plates that intrude with radiographs by overlapping the necessary inside constructions, so it is rather tough to see any effective particulars within the cranium or physique. We did a full dental examination to search for dangerous tooth that may be inflicting an abscess or bother consuming, and stuck some minor issues, however didn’t discover something extreme. We began Bell on remedies with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and he or she appeared to enhance. A number of weeks after these meds had been completed, employees famous that she had extra snot bubbles, and he or she was performing completely different. It grew to become obvious that Bell couldn’t see properly, and this was a sudden change in her imaginative and prescient. That is extremely regarding for a illness course of within the cranium that might be inflicting each nasal and eye issues, similar to a tumor or a really dangerous an infection (similar to a fungal an infection).
The one approach to see extra element within the head is to do a CT scan. These scans additionally use x-ray expertise however they do it in slices so you possibly can piece again collectively a 3-D reconstruction of the cranium and look inside with none outer constructions in the way in which. That is good for an armored animal like armadillos.
3-view to guage the nasal cavity in 3 planes, permitting us to look into the sinus with out interference from the bones.
Bell was taken to MedVet and anesthetized for the CT. Anesthesia is important so the animal may be very nonetheless for the scan. The radiologists (together with Dr. Chase Fixed who has helped the zoo many instances, and radiology resident Vionna Kwan) had been in a position to evaluate the scan in actual time and had data earlier than Bell was even awake.
The excellent news is that we didn’t discover any proof of a tumor or harmful infectious course of. The dangerous information is we didn’t discover a solution for Bell’s indicators.
The radiologists had been even in a position to see sufficient element to know that there have been no modifications to her optic nerve and eyes, that are so small. MedVet’s Ophthalmologist, Dr. Vanessa Kuonen Cavens, got here by to take a look at Bell’s eyes for clues. She was in a position to verify that Bell doesn’t have any cataracts, however her eyes had been simply too small to guage anything!
We additionally carried out a nasal flush to aim to get some cells and tradition samples to attempt to discover clues about why Bell has these indicators. We’re nonetheless ready for these outcomes. Within the meantime, Bell is again in her residence on the Zoo, the place we’re treating her signs as wanted for her consolation, and he or she is adjusting to her modifications in imaginative and prescient.
