Abstract
Simple SummaryAnimal-vehicle collisions are the major cause of rescue and need for hospitalization in wildlife referral centers. Radiography is used to assess the traumatized animal and is a rapid means to evaluate various traumatic pathologies. Clinicians can exploit radiography when making rapid decisions about whether to euthanize or treat an animal. We evaluated data (reasons for rescue, diagnosed lesions, and outcome) from a population of hospitalized wildlife ungulates and we investigated the benefits of using radiography as a diagnostic tool.Animal-vehicle collisions are the major cause of rescue and need for hospitalization in wildlife referral centers. Clinicians need easy-to-use tools to make rapid decisions about whether to euthanize or treat injured animals. The aim of the study was to evaluate the data (reasons for rescue, diagnosed lesions, and outcome) from a hospitalized population of wildlife ungulates and investigate the benefits of using radiography as a diagnostic tool. Data were collected from three wildlife referral centers in Tuscany (Italy). The following information was collected for each animal: reason for hospitalization, clinical examination, radiographic examination, definitive diagnosis, and outcome. A chi-squared test was used to assess the benefits of radiography in detecting different traumatic lesions. Prevalence was reported according to the reason for hospitalization, definitive diagnosis, radiographic diagnosis, and outcome. The main reason for hospitalization was traumatic lesions due to vehicle collisions and 71.1% of the animals did not survive. Radiography was more useful in patients with traumatic axial skeletal lesions and/or multiple traumas with respect to traumatic appendicular skeleton lesions. Our results show that radiography is a useful diagnostic technique for assessing wildlife emergencies and it could help the clinician in making medical decisions.
Highlights
In the last few decades, the population of wildlife ungulates has increased exponentially in Western Europe [1,2], including Italy, where our study took place [3,4]
The increase in the wildlife ungulates population led to the expansion of animals in nearby areas leading to more interactions between humans and wildlife ungulates [5]
Our findings showed that radiography is more useful in animals affected by traumatic axial skeletal lesion and/or multiple trauma with respect to the traumatic appendicular skeleton lesions and traumas
Summary
In the last few decades, the population of wildlife ungulates has increased exponentially in Western Europe [1,2], including Italy, where our study took place [3,4]. This should be seen as part of a wider and general phenomenon, related to deep changes in the environment where these species live and interact with the human population [1]. Population led to the expansion of animals in nearby areas leading to more interactions between humans and wildlife ungulates [5]. Some studies have shown that cervid movement is the main factor influencing collision risk and frequency, and that deer–vehicle accidents are related to habitat, climatic, and traffic characteristics, as well as predation, hunting, and disturbance effects [10,11,12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
