Fatal gunshot to a fox: The Virtopsy approach in a forensic veterinary case

摘要

A four-month-old male fox shot dead by a hunter was subjected to unenhanced postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), PMCT-angiography (PMCTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (PMMR) to document the effects of semi-jacketed hunting ammunition (17 Hornet) on the body of a small animal. The effect of the ammunition on bone structures (crushing of the cervical spine and spinal cord), blood vessels (laceration of all supra-aortal vessels) and surrounding soft tissue (large wound cavity) was extensive, and imaging confirmed the fatal power of the ammunition. Virtual autopsy (Virtopsy) is a valuable examination tool for veterinary indications as well as in humans.