Mumbai vets perform city’s first CT scan on Indian Rock python

Mumbai: When standard X-rays failed to explain an injured 8-foot-long Indian Rock python's mysterious jaw problem, Chembur-based veterinarian Dr. Deepa Katyal Engineer turned to an unlikely tool — a CT scanner. In a first-of-its-kind procedure for reptiles in the city, her team successfully captured detailed 3D images of the 8-foot snake, revealing hidden injuries and setting a precedent for exotic animal diagnostics in India. The adult female snake was found in a farm in the rural village of Murdbad in Thane district by RAWW volunteers who also alerted the Forest Department.

"When the python came to us, I could tell there was an injury to its jaw, but through an X-ray it was difficult to pinpoint the seriousness of the injury. So we decided to get a CT scan done, which was a first for us with a reptile," said Dr Engineer who is known for her expertise in animal pain management and has been running her clinic for over three decades. The rare procedure, carried out without sedation, confirmed a severe jaw malocclusion, which is a misalignment or crookedness of the jaw which would make it painful for the reptile to catch prey, and an older injury. The python has also lost 60% of its teeth from the upper and lower jaw. According to Dr Engineer, the snake is suspected to have been hit on its head either by accident or in a collision or due to human activity.

In order to carry out the CT scan, Dr Engineer gently taped the snake's head to minimise movement while two staff members carefully held its body during the scan. "We opted to not sedate the reptile as unlike an OT where we have oxygen and other support to help us in case something goes wrong. We did not want to take a risk while the python was in the machine," she said. The python is currently under rehabilitation and is unlikely to be released into the wild until a course of treatment is charted.

Indian rock pythons are commonly found in marshes and grasslands as well as rocky foothills. However, they are often found injured due to man-animal conflict.