Surgical Anatomy for Sterilization Procedures in Female Capybaras

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Capybaras are the largest rodents cohabiting with humans within urban and peri-urban green areas. Surgical contraception has been recommended as a method of population control in cases of overpopulation and/or zoonotic disease transmission; however, scant data are available on sterilization procedures and relevant surgical anatomy. For surgical anatomic description, eight female capybara cadavers were dissected; the layers of the abdominal wall are described as well as the access to the uterine tubes and uterine horns by a lateral or ventral midline approach. For better description of the abdominal wall, ultrasonography was performed in one (1) living female. The uterine tubes were easily accessed by the bilateral flank approach, whereas the uterine horns were more easily exposed by the ventral midline approach. Given the lack of data regarding surgical anatomy for contraceptive surgeries in female capybaras, this study helps achieve more efficient contraceptive surgeries, both reducing the total surgical time and enhancing animal welfare. ABSTRACT: Capybaras are the largest rodents cohabiting with humans within urban and peri-urban green areas and are known by their prolificity. Surgical contraception has been recommended by official organizations as a way to control capybara populations in areas of zoonotic disease transmission, but little data are available concerning surgical anatomy. To obtain objective anatomical descriptions related to reproductive organs, eight female capybaras cadavers were dissected. The stratigraphy of the lateral (flank) and ventral, post-umbilical (on the linea alba) abdominal wall is described as well as the vascular anatomy of reproductive organs and their syntopy with the abdominal viscera. We commented on the access to the uterine tubes and uterine horns for each approach, and for better description of abdominal wall stratigraphy, abdominal ultrasonography was performed in one live female. All of the animals were provenient from “in situ” population management projects that were properly authorized. Similar abdominal wall stratigraphy was found in comparison to domestic mammals, with emphasis on a thick cutaneous muscle, a thin linea alba, and a large, loose cecum. The uterine tubes were easily accessed by bilateral laparotomy, allowing tubal removal/ligation procedures, while uterine horn exposure was more readily reached by a midline post umbilical celiotomy, favoring horn ligature and hysterotomy techniques. This study can help achieve more efficient contraceptive surgeries in capybaras, reducing the total surgical time and enhancing animal welfare.