Aspectos anátomo-radiográficos e tempo de trânsito gastrointestinal em Jiboia-Cinzenta boa constrictor amarali stull, 1932 (Squamata, Boidae)

Abstract

The contrast radiographic study of the gastrointestinal tract is a valuable technique widely used in veterinary medicine, but little described in snakes, and no determination of the gastrointestinal transit time in neotropical snakes has been found in any literature review. Considered this, the objective of this work is to describe the technique of gastrointestinal transit in Boa constrictor amarali. In order to do so, simple radiographs of seven snakes were initially obtained, and contrast medium (barium sulphate) at a dose of 25 mL / kg at a concentration of 35% was subsequently administered and, thereafter, established radiographic sequence in the following times: 5 and 30 minutes; 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 24, 48, 72, 96 and in one animal extended at 120 and 126 hours. The average esophageal transit rate was estimated at 26.71 ± 19.48 hours, the average gastric filling time was 28.57 ± 27.22 minutes and emptying was 60 ± 12 hours, average filling time of contrast medium at small intestine was 3 ± 2.16 hours and emptying was 97 ± 15.65 hours, and the average filling time of the large intestine was 40 ± 11.31 hours. In this way, the average time of passage of contrast by the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the complete elimination of barium sulphate from the small intestine was 97 ± 15.65. In addition to the determination of the gastrointestinal transit time, the technique employed allowed the morphological identification of the alimentary canal through the design of the radiographic contrast.