Dr. Eric Hostnik to serve as lead radiologist for first national database of animal diagnostic images
Article by: Brookfield Zoo
Originally Published
Seven zoos and aquariums across the country have come together to create a pioneering digital repository of diagnostic images, such as radiographs, CT scans and MRIs, to solve an ongoing challenge for zoological veterinarians and advance the veterinary field. Unveiled for the first time last week, the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database (ZARD) will provide veterinarians and radiologists with new, previously scarce reference material for scans on animals from rhinos to dolphins. It will not only support zoos and aquariums in providing the highest standard of veterinary care and animal welfare, but also offer a resource for professionals studying animals in the wild.
The database was conceived in 2021 by leading zoological institutions across the U.S., including Brookfield Zoo Chicago, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Wildlife Conservation Society, Saint Louis Zoo, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance. It is also supported by board-certified radiologists from the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
The project was first inspired by a unique veterinary case for a critically endangered eastern black rhinoceros named Layla at Brookfield Zoo Chicago in 2017. Layla had developed a growth in her sinus that obstructed her airway and made breathing difficult. To help prescribe treatment, Layla’s veterinary team performed a computed tomography (CT) scan. As the first living adult rhino to receive a CT scan, Layla’s veterinarians and radiologists had limited reference material to see what “normal” looks like for her species. They needed to rely on imaging of deceased rhinos from museums, which do not show soft tissue such as muscles and blood vessels. The experts on the case quickly identified the need for more comprehensive reference material for Layla’s species and beyond.
“Layla’s case shined a large spotlight on a challenge that zoological veterinarians and radiologists face when diagnosing non-domestic species like rhinos,” said Dr. Michael Adkesson, president and CEO of Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the project’s principal investigator. “Working with experts across the country, we’re excited to provide a solution to that challenge with the unveiling of the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database. Undoubtedly, this new resource will be a game-changer for the zoological community and significantly improve our ability to diagnose and treat the animals in our care."
The ZARD will be accessible through a web-based user portal for zoo and wildlife professionals only, where users can search for images based on species, age, sex, and body part. It will feature over 10,000 diagnostic images from 500 different species that are common across zoos and aquariums or under threat of extinction. Each species will be represented by an equal distribution of male and female animals at a range of ages, and diagnostic images will be made anonymous to protect patient identities. Currently 1,000 images from 50 species are included, and the ZARD team expects to reach its target goal of 10,000 images within the next 1-2 years. The team is also planning for the next phase of the database, which would focus on pathology seen on diagnostic image studies within zoological species.
In addition to filling gaps in knowledge about the healthy anatomies of zoological species, the database helps address limited availability of radiologists with the skillset to read diagnostic images for the hundreds of species in zoological care. All images added to the ZARD will be reviewed by board-certified veterinary radiologists from the Zoo, Exotic, Wildlife Diagnostic Imaging Society of The American College of Veterinary Radiology. These specialists will ensure that the images depict normal anatomical structures, providing a reliable reference for veterinary professionals.
“Currently there is no textbook to reference to understand the unique anatomies of zoological animals, leaving few radiologists with the experience to confidently assess radiographs," said Dr. Eric Hostnik, the project’s lead radiologist and associate professor of veterinary radiology at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “This database will help address the shortage of trained radiologists for these purposes and provide an enormous teaching tool for aspiring veterinarians specializing in zoological medicine and radiology.”
Further, the knowledge gained from the ZARD aims to contribute to the conservation of endangered species globally and advance scientific discovery of wildlife. For example, field research biologists studying imperiled populations in the wild can conduct remote diagnostic scans on wild animals, such as Blanding’s turtles, and use the database as reference to understand the presence of diseases or malformations that might impact animals’ survival.
“Creation of the on-line Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database (ZARD) will provide, for the first time, a sophisticated imaging resource accessible to everyone,” said Dr. Paul Calle, chief veterinarian emeritus at Wildlife Conservation Society, based at the Bronx Zoo. “The broad availability of this information will facilitate global advances in the care, health, and welfare of all zoo, aquarium, and wildlife species.”
“Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment is proud to collaborate with other AZA institutions to support the Zoo and Aquarium Radiology Database. The diversity of species and our extensive wellness programs at Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® and The Seas with Nemo & Friends ® allow for significant contributions to the database. We are grateful the Chicago Zoological Society has included us as an innovative zoo and aquarium health partner,” said Dr. Deidre Fontenot, veterinarian at Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment.
“Advanced diagnostic imaging is a game-changer in zoological medicine, allowing veterinarians to find more and do more in providing the best care possible for our patients,” said Dr. Jimmy Johnson, senior director of animal health at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and a 2012 alumnus of Ohio State's College of Veterinary Medicine. “We are humbled to be a part of this transformative collaboration providing a broad resource to advance the care and conservation of zoo, aquarium, and wildlife species worldwide.”
The project was made possible in-part by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Grant MG-249218-OMS-21) and by additional funding from Brookfield Zoo Chicago, which houses and will maintain the database long-term.