DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING AND OROTRACHEAL INTUBATION IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY WILD SUNDA PANGOLINS (MANIS JAVANICA) IN SINGAPORE.

Abstract

Pangolins are amongst the most overexploited species in the world and all eight species of pangolins are threatened with extinction. These animals are rare in zoological collections and often suffer high mortality rates in captivity. Maintaining healthy populations in captivity has become more important with the declining populations in the wild, but knowledge of veterinary care of these animals is limited. Interpreting radiography and ultrasonography images in a patient can be challenging without knowledge of normal findings. The Wildlife Healthcare and Research Center (WHRC) at Mandai Wildlife Reserve (MWR) admits an average of 25 Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica) annually, which is a Critically Endangered species native to Singapore. All the pangolins are triaged on admission and anesthetized for a health assessment before release into the wild. Endotracheal intubation using an otoscope and stylet is a novel technique in the species that has been developed and is commonly performed with these pangolins. A retrospective study was done on 20 clinically healthy wild pangolins to determine normal ultrasonography and radiography findings in the species. Notable findings include the presence of radio-opaque particles in the stomachs of all pangolins, the presence of free fluid cranial to the left kidney (13/20), a spleen with multifocal hypoechoic regions (6/20), and open epiphyseal plates of long bones even in large individuals weighing as heavy as 6.8 kg. Ultrasonographic images and measurements of kidney, spleen, and adrenal gland sizes as well as intestinal, gallbladder, and urinary bladder wall thickness were also described. These diagnostic imaging findings can advance the veterinary care of captive and wild pangolins.