Camille Francois, Lionel Schilliger, Olivia Eberlé, Camille Delavenne, Clément Paillusseau
The objectives of this study were to describe the gross anatomy and ultrasonographic appearance of coelomic organs in subadult and adult axolotls ( Ambystoma mexicanum ), to describe an ultrasound technique, and to test correlations of ultrasonographic measurement with body length, width, and weight. Necropsies of coelomic organs were conducted on 10 axolotls (females = 5; males = 5) and ultrasound on 11 (males = 5; females = 6). Animals were kept in water and maintained conscious during ultrasound. The heart, caudal vena cava, liver, gallbladder, spleen, esophagus, stomach, colon, kidneys, ovaries, and fat bodies were identified in all study subjects, although testicles were identified in only 6/7 subjects...
January 2024: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine: Official Publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians