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1 December 2018 QUANTITATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF HEALTHY ADULT BOAS (BOA CONSTRICTOR)
Júlio César Simões de Souza, Thaiza Helena Tavares Fernandes, Marília de Albuquerque Bonelli, Fabiano Séllos Costa
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Abstract

The evaluation of radiodensity using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) has several indications in animals. It allows for standardization of reference values for bone densitometry and helps in the clinical diagnosis of diseases. Currently, there is a lack of such data in the literature for Boa constrictor constrictor. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate reference values for bone density in boas (Boa constrictor constrictor). Computed tomography scans were performed on 10 adult, healthy, free-ranging boas. Results showed mean values of vertebral trabecular bone for free-ranging boas were 1,237.91 ± 54.61 mg/cm3. Because of the difficulty in obtaining clinical and radiographic diagnoses of metabolic bone diseases, especially in a timely manner, densitometry may become a helpful tool in preventive veterinary medicine.

Copyright 2018 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Júlio César Simões de Souza, Thaiza Helena Tavares Fernandes, Marília de Albuquerque Bonelli, and Fabiano Séllos Costa "QUANTITATIVE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY OF HEALTHY ADULT BOAS (BOA CONSTRICTOR)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 49(4), 1012-1015, (1 December 2018). https://doi.org/10.1638/2017-0224.1
Accepted: 21 August 2018; Published: 1 December 2018
KEYWORDS
boa
Boa constrictor constrictor
densitometry
snakes
trabecular bone
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