Giving Frogs X Rays
Posted at 2:45 pm February 21, 2006 by Valerie Stoddard
Our first Harter Veterinary Medical Center blog made mention of the various sizes of animals we treat, from very large to very small. Last week, we had two tiny patients in the hospital that we don’t often see here, especially not for digital radiographs: mountain yellow-legged frogs!
In December, seven endangered frogs, one female and six males, arrived into quarantine at CRES, the hospital’s closest neighbor at the Wild Animal Park. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Forest Service rescued the frogs as tiny tadpoles in the San Bernardino Mountains. Debris flows from the fire-ravaged area caused winter flooding that buried their habitat under 10 feet of choking sediment! The frogs were immediately relocated to the Los Angeles Zoo and were later delivered to the CRES facility with collaboration from the USGS, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the intention of initiating a captive-breeding program and saving the species.
Since these frogs and many other amphibians have been dying off at an alarming rate due to a fungal infection called chytridiomycosis or ” chytrid” disease, as well as other environmental hazards, it will be a critical effort to undertake. Medical Center and CRES staff members work very closely to monitor the frogs’ health and well-being and research their behavior. Every bit of information gathered and disseminated about them is used as a weapon to fight their demise.
Last week as part of the ongoing research, it was decided that radiographs, or X rays, should be taken to reveal the frogs’ bone density. A male and one female were selected and prepared for the imaging procedures. How, I wondered, does one radiograph a frog? Frogs, after all, have an innate need to jump, and radiographs don’t turn out very well when done on a moving target, especially a tiny, wet, slimy one. My first thought was, ” very carefully.”
Once the frogs were placed on the table, Dr. Cora Singleton, with assistance from hospital and CRES staff, gently removed the first frog and placed it in a one-gallon plastic baggie. This provides a safe way to restrain the frogs while leaving them in a good position for radiographs. The whole process took, at most, 20 seconds. Brilliant!
The frogs’ images were taken utilizing our new state-of-the-art digital radiography unit, and we got an amazing look at their inner structure. In the accompanying radiograph image, you might detect a small, ” unnatural” looking object near the left rear leg of the frog. This is a transponder, which is placed under the skin as a unique identifier. As you might imagine, frogs tend to look alike (unless you’re another frog), and the transponder provides a much more accurate method of identification.
Both frogs were removed from their ” restraints” and returned to their plastic transport containers, no worse for wear after their first photo shoot. They were returned to their climate-controlled tanks to eat their crickets and night crawlers, with no concept of how important they are to maintaining the rest of their species. Their 15 minutes of fame with our hospital ” paparazzi ” provided more information for researchers and, it is hoped, will contribute to their ultimate survival.
Valerie Stoddard is the senior administrative assistant at the Wild Animal Park’s Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center.
Here’s more information about frogs.
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February 21st, 2006 at 6:55 pm
Thank you, Valerie, for giving us a bit of insight into the seriously important work being done at the Harter Medical Center and CRES. I am constantly awed by the work you doctors and scientists are doing to help preserve endangered species and to keep our animal population healthy. Thanks also for the links you provided. They made for some serious reading!
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:39 am
WOW! That was a very interesting and amazing story. I would have said the same thing as you did…how are we going to keep them still while we take the x-ray? Whoever thought of the plastic bag idea is a genius! It is very comforting to know that there are many, many caring people, like yourself, in this world that are trying desperately to save even the smallest animal. They’re as important as the large ones and in some cases even more so. Please continue blogging since stories like this are so interesting and it helps people become more aware of the obstacles that a lot of endangered animals are facing. Keep up the wonderful work you all do. Thanks
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Very interesting! I learned new things about frogs, their endangered species designation and what is being done to preserve them and other animals of our world. Somehow we humans seem to feel we are the only ones that are ‘important’ on this Earth while in reality it is nearly impossible to live without our animal friends (and foes alike). It’s a better world for all of us. Thanks for everyone that truly cares….like you!!
February 24th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
I’m constantly astounded by the brilliance and innovation of the folks working in animal care, training and husbandry. I recently met a dermatologist whose own hands were pretty damaged…she told me it was a result of a year of holding infants for x-rays–the protective gloves, she guesses, had been lost at some point and the young docs just didn’t think twice about it. I’m so impressed by how people there balance the needs of the animals, the people, and science ….
March 17th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Being a Radiographer myself, I found this story very interesting. We used to have radiographs of animals on the wall in one of our radiology department rooms…..a long time ago. One of them was of a snake and one was a fish. They are very cool!