Hybrid tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus x O. mossambicus) were studied to determine gastric emptying and gastrointestinal transit time. The fish were divided into two groups. All fish were fasted for 12 h. The first experiment consisted of 11 fish fed with commercial food pellets and then administration of barium sulfate directly into the stomach using a blunt-end needle. Fish were then radiographed at different time intervals. The second experiment consisted of eight fish, which were given only barium sulfate after 12 h of fasting. In the first experiment, the stomach emptied completely, ranging from 4 to 15h postcontrast medium administration, whereas the gastrointestinal transit time ranged between 10 and 26 h. As for the second experiment, the contrast medium was still retained in the stomach in 50% of the fish after 24 h. The study did not proceed beyond 24 h as fish were considered stressed after this period of time. Thus, no data for the gastrointestinal transit time was obtained.
Postmortem radiographic examinations of animals are commonly performed in judicial investigations to rule out gunshot and fractures. However, there was no available data on radiographic postmortem changes of animals. Forty-one sets of abdominal radiographs of feline cadavers made within 12 h of death were evaluated for postmortem changes. Intravascular gas was detected in 11 of 41 (27%) cadavers. The most common site of intravascular gas was the liver. Intravascular gas was also present in the aorta, femoral artery, celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries, and caudal superficial epigastric artery. Intrasplenic gas was detected in two cadavers. Only two cadavers had distended small intestine. One cadaver had pneumatosis coli. The changes detected were most likely due to putrefaction.