Ecographic characterization of reproductive system of male and females of African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

Abstract

Ultrasonography is a minimally invasive procedure that provides a lot of information, but it is important to consider that it is necessary to know the normal view of each system to make a correct diagnosis. This tool is being more used in medical practice of exotic animals, there is limited published information, such as normal and pathological circumstances, so this procedure is performed in a subjective manner. An ultrasound study was performed of the reproductive system in 27 hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) to describe ultrasonographic and morphometric characteristics of this system, because in this species they have been described some pathologies with clinically significant which approach to diagnosis should be performed by ultrasound. The average morphometric results were expressed in centimeters: Vagina high: 0.51. Uterine Cervix diameter: 0.61. Uterine corpus diameter: 0.4. Uterine Horn left diameter: 0.38. Uterine Right Horn diameter: 0.34. Ovary left width: 0.32. Ovary right width: 0.33. Left Testicle width: 1.27; high: 0.90; long: 1.62. Right Testicle width: 1.26; high: 0.90; long: 1.64. Left epididymis width: 0.33; high: 0.26. Right epididymis width: 0,39; high: 0.24. Prostate width: 1.38; high: 0.44; long: 1.60. The obtained results indicate that females have uterine corpus, which differs from other authors publications. 73% of cases the left horn is larger in diameter than the right one. In testicular image, no echogenic line display which allows inferring that the mediastinum of species is less fibrous or with a less developed. The shape and size of the prostate is highly variable among healthy individuals independent of the weight of the animal. This study allows to obtain referential values and characteristics of the hedgehog reproductive system, useful information to objectify ultrasound study in this species.