Description of cloacoscopy in the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

The aim of the study was to describe cloacoscopy in the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and to evaluate its efficacy in clinical practice. Cloacoscopy was performed on 31 turtles, 23 females and 8 males. Thirty minutes before anaesthesia, meloxicam (0.4 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly. Turtles were anaesthetised with a combination of 0.04 mg/kg dexmedetomidine and 4 mg/kg ketamine administered intramuscularly. Cloacoscopy was performed with a diagnostic telescope (10 mm diameter, 30 cm long, 0°, with an operating sheath) or with a flexible colonoscope (13 mm diameter, 160 cm long). Turtles were placed in dorsal recumbence and endoscope was inserted through the vent. In the distal part of the proctodeum, phallus or clitoris were easily visualized. A finger and thumb were placed around the vent to act as a valve in order to control the fluid infusion. Flushing the cloaca with warm saline and 0.6% lidocaine allowed clear view. The urethral orifice was located centrally within the urogenital sinus. Further proximally, the slit of the urodeum with the distal sphincter of the colon could be visualized. Passing gently through the urethral orifice allowed direct visualization of the urinary bladder. After withdrawing and re-directing the endoscope into the coprodeum, the terminal part of the intestine was reached. From 31 loggerhead turtles examined, fishing lines were found in 23 animals. Cloacoscopy proved to be a feasible diagnostic method and it is suggested as a routine diagnostic tool for clinical assessment of loggerhead turtle patients. Cloaca, chelonians, diagnostic endoscopy The clinical approach to sea turtles is basically not very different from that of other chelonian groups. However, being wild animals, these patients are easily stressed by invasive techniques (Gregory et al. 1996; Whitaker et al. 1999; Wyneken et al. 2006). It is therefore important to reduce the stress of contact with humans as much as possible. Anaesthesia with extended postoperative recovery periods is also a major challenge. Consequently, all techniques that could reduce the invasiveness of clinical management are of a great value for the veterinary practice involving sea turtles. Endoscopy is a feasible diagnostic technique in clinical practice with reptile patients (Schildger and Wicker 1992; Divers et al. 2010; Hernandez-Divers 2004). Cloacoscopy was described by Coppoolse et al. (1985) and has been rapidly adopted by reptile specialists. The aim of the study was to describe cloacoscopy in the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and to evaluate its efficacy as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice. Materials and Methods Cloacoscopy was performed in 31 adult loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta), hospitalized for different reasons at the Clinic of Exotic and Wild Animals of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. All the turtles were found stranded or floating near the island of Sicily. Initial sex determination was based on morphological characteristics (length of the tail, the distance of the cloacal opening to the tip of the tail, presence of the claw on the flipper) and revealed a total of 23 females and 8 males (Table 1). Physical examination with complete neurological examination (Chrisman et al. 1997), evaluation of the blood profile, and radiography were performed (Plate II, Fig. 1) in all turtle patients. ACTA VET. BRNO 2016, 85: 367-370; doi:10.2754/avb201685040367 Address for correspondence: Zdenek Knotek Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Palackeho tr. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic Tel: +420 604 205 305 E-mail: [email protected] http://actavet.vfu.cz/ Thirty minutes before anaesthesia, meloxicam was administered intramuscularly (IM) at a dose rate of 0.4 mg/kg (Metacam®, Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany). Anaesthesia was performed using a combination of 0.04 mg/kg dexmedetomidine (Dexdomitor®, Vetoquinol, Italy) with 4 mg/kg of ketamine (Ketavet 100®, Intervet, Italy) administered intramuscularly. Turtles were placed in dorsal recumbence on a heating pad. Cloacoscopy was performed by using two different scopes: a diagnostic telescope (10 mm diameter, 30 cm long, 0°, Olympus A5254A, Japan) with an operating sheath; and a flexible colonoscope (13 mm diameter, 160 cm long, Olympus CF-VL, Japan). The scopes were connected to a multi-functional system «TELE PACK TM» (Storz®, Tuttlingen, Germany) consisting of a cold light source, a camera, a monitor and a digital picture acquisition system. After the endoscope was gently introduced into the cloacal opening, sterile saline (30 °C, 0.9% NaCl, S.A.L.F., Italy) combined with 3 ml/l lidocaine chlorohydrate (2% Lidocaina, Esteve, Italy), was injected into the cloaca to dilate the cloacal wall to improve visualisation. Subsequently, gentle flushing was performed using a syringe (60 ml, Pic solutions/Artsana, Italy) connected with an intravenous drip line to the operating sheath port of the rigid endoscope or the fibrescope. A finger and thumb were placed around the cloacal opening in order to avoid saline outflow.