Aspectos anátomo-radiográficos e tempo de trânsito grastrintestinal em tracajá Podocnemis unifilis troschel, 1848 (Testudines, Podocnemididae)

Abstract

The Tracajá has herb-based diet, but it can be fed with a small quantity of animal-based food. The digestion time of these animals is influenced by both temperature and nutricion status. To understand the digestion process of food in animal organisms, studies on the gastrointestinal tract transit are necessary. The objective of this study was evaluate the radiography anatomy and determine the gastrointestinal transit time of this reptile, in order to supply information to clinical and surgery operations. Ten animals from laboratory of research in wild animals of University Federal Uberlândia, with approximately 2 years of age e 1.08 ± 0.25 kg of weight were sampled. The animals were orally fed with a barium sulfate suspension (Bariogel®) at 10mL/kg mixed with mineral oil (Nujol®), at a rate of 70% of barium sulfate for 30% of mineral oil. Afterwards, the animals underwent radiography in a dorsum ventriloquoal position, with the X-ray device adjusted at 72 Kv and 200 mA, in time intervals as to follow the permanency of contrast in the organism. Five minutes after the contrast was supplied, the stomach was fulfilled. After sixteen hours the contrast advanced to the small intestine. In 48 hours, the whole small intestine and part of the colon were fulfilled. On the 9th day the stomach showed empty and the contrast advanced to the colon. On the 11th day, the colon was totally fulfilled and the contrast was close to cloaca. On the 18th day all contrast was eliminated by the animal. Therefore, we can conclude that it was possible to determine the whole radiographic sequence of the contrast in the gastrointestinal tract of these animals and to establish some parameters regarding time in each region of the digestion tube; contrast passes more quickly through the small intestine than in the colon; total time for contrast elimination was, in average, 17.6 ± 2.41 days with the minimum of 12 and maximum of 22 days.