In brief
The newly launched Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database offers essential reference images helping wildlife veterinarians diagnose and treat uncommon animals.
In a bid to assist veterinarians treating unique and endangered species, the launch of a new resource has been announced: the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database. This innovative online tool arrived on the scene to address a notable gap in the available medical references for wild animals, including species like rhinos, tamarins, pangolins, and sea stars.Dr. Michael Adkesson, president and chief executive of Brookfield Zoo Chicago, expressed the challenges faced by radiologists when tasked with examining the anatomy of less-studied animals. While professionals may feel confident with common pets such as dogs and cats, the same cannot be said for predominant wild creatures. A case exemplifying this dilemma arose in 2018 when a black rhinoceros at the zoo experienced troubling breathing issues, prompting a CT scan of its head. During this process, Dr. Adkesson and his team realized they lacked a baseline reference for understanding how the internal structures of a rhino should appear.To counteract this deficit, the collaborative effort by seven zoological institutions birthed the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database, which was unveiled last month. The resource currently houses over 1,000 medical images, comprising X-rays and CT scans of 50 distinct animal species. With aspirations to expand the database to include more than 10,000 images across 500 species by the year 2026, the database aims to fill an important niche for wildlife veterinarians in need of diagnostic assistance for their non-conventional patients. This project marks a significant advancement in veterinary medicine and wildlife care, providing critical information to aid in the understanding and treatment of rare species.
