Simple radiography of the coelomic cavity in Podocnemis expansa and Podocnemis unifilis: proposal for an illustrative atlas as a diagnostic tool

Testudines are among the most popular reptiles chosen as exotic pets and, as a result, are referred more frequently for veterinary evaluation. However, it is difficult to investigate pathologies in these individuals due to their body conformation, which prevents a detailed physical examination. Imaging tests, mainly radiography, are used to aid clinical investigation. However, there are limitations in the evaluation due to the natural reduction in the detail of the coelomic organs in plain radiography, which can lead to underdiagnosis. The objective of this study was to describe the radiographic findings of the coelomic cavity in Podocnemis expansa and P. unifilis, using dorsoventral incidence and correlating with the topographic findings of necropsy, and to propose an illustrative color atlas to aid in the interpretation of the images. Twenty adult individuals (10 of each species) underwent DV radiographs with standardized parameters (200 mA; 5.0 mAs; 70 kV), and three carcasses of each species underwent necropsy. The radiograph allowed identification of the stomach and segments of the intestinal loops, although organs such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, reproductive organs, and urinary bladder could not be individualized. As an alternative, an illustrative atlas was prepared and superimposed on the radiographic images, based on the anatomical topography observed in the necropsy, allowing better recognition of the structures. It can be concluded that, although plain radiography has limitations, the use of a schematic anatomical atlas contributes significantly to the interpretation of images and can be a useful tool in the clinical practice of wild animals.