Radiographic characteristics of fractures of the appendicular and axial skeleton of the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) (Lineu, 1758)

• Grant number: 22/13256-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Maria Jaqueline Mamprim de Arruda Monteiro
• Grantee: Marcus Vinicius Lage Silva Giaculi Marques
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) belong to order Pilosa, which includes sloths and the anteaters, and are widely distributed throughout Brazil. This large mammal is very prone to being run over and other anthropic accidents due to its lethargic behavior and foraging characteristics, leading to an increase in the frequency of these patients in the veterinary clinical care routine and a consequent increase in the demand for specialized veterinary care, since due to anatomical and physiological peculiarities, the physical examination of the musculoskeletal system in these individuals is limited and, therefore, the use of radiographs is necessary for the evaluation of the organism of these injured animals. Furthermore, radiographic evaluation has been shown to be of paramount importance in the treatment of these animals, although data on the types of fractures caused by trampling is scarce in the literature. Therefore, the present study aims to describe the types of fractures in animals received at CEMPAS (Center for Medicine and Research in Wild Animals), in addition to mapping the places where accidents happened in order to help veterinarians in emergency situations and identify risk locations of the crossing of these animals, and mainly the best surgical treatment in face of the most observed fractures.