Análise radiográfica e caracterização topográfica de lesões traumáticas em mamíferos silvestres atropelados no Sudoeste do Paraná

Abstract

Roadkill constitutes the main anthropogenic factor associated with wildlife mortality, with the Atlantic Forest being the ecosystem with the highest number of recorded cases in Brazil. The susceptibility of species to road collisions is directly related to their type of locomotion, ecological and behavioral patterns, as well as seasonal variations in the region. Understanding the incidence and morphology of the most frequent injuries in the species most affected by roadkill allows professionals involved in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation to adopt more accurate approaches, optimizing the chances of recovery and reintegration of individuals into their natural environments. Among the diagnostic methods employed in this context, radiography stands out as a fundamental tool for the detection and characterization of fractures, dislocations, and other osteoarticular alterations, in addition to supporting therapeutic planning and case follow-up. In this context, the present study aimed to quantify the species of wild mammals found run over on the road surface along three highways connecting the city of Realeza, Paraná State, as well as to perform a radiographic study of these animals in order to characterize bone traumas. Traumatic injuries resulting from roadkill were analyzed in 51 neotropical wild mammals belonging to 12 different species. The lesions were topographically classified into four categories: abdomen/pelvis (AP), thorax (TX), head/neck (HN), and extremities (EX). The most prevalent radiological findings were pelvic fractures (67%; n = 34), followed by fractures of cranial bones, including the mandible (55%; n = 28), frontal bone (45%; n = 23), occipital bone (43%; n = 22), maxilla (43%; n = 22), and parietal bone (41%; n = 21). We also determined the frequency of roadkills across the seasons, with spring showing the highest number of occurrences. These results may assist veterinarians involved in the emergency care of wild animals and may also be valuable in forensic investigations where roadkill is considered a possible contributing factor to death.