Aspectos anátomo radiográficos e tempo do trânsito grastrintestinal em cágado de Barbicha Phrynops geoffroanus Schweigger, 1812 (Testudines, Chelidae)

Abstract

The Geoffroy s side-necked turtle has omnivorous diet, and the digestion speed 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 to determine the gastrointestinal transit time of this reptile, in order to supply information to clinical and surgery operations. Ten adults animals from Uberabinha river (18°55 42.1 S and 48°17 39.4 W), Brasil, 1.92 ± 0.42 kg of weight were sampled. The animals were orally fed 10ml/kg of a barium sulfate suspension (Bariogel®) at 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 ventral position, with the X-ray device adjusted at 62 KV and 250 mA, in time intervals as to follow the permanency of contrast in the organism. After 110.4 ± 33.37 h (approximately 4.6 days) all contrast was eliminate. 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 digestive tract.