{"title":"Two-dimensional and Doppler Echocardiographic Findings in Healthy Non-sedated Captive European Pond Turtles (Emys orbicularis)","authors":"Irène Vonfeld, Benoît Quintard","doi":"10.5818/jhms-d-23-00036","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"\n Two-dimensional (2D) and Doppler echocardiography is considered the most practical diagnostic tool for antemortem evaluation of reptilian heart disease but has only been described in a limited number of chelonian species. Cardiac morphology and function were evaluated by ultrasonography in 35 clinically healthy, captive non-sedated European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) using 2D-mode, M-mode, and pulsed wave spectral Doppler. Turtles were placed in a temperature-controlled water tank (24-26°C, 75.2-78.8°F) for cardiac examination through the right cervicobrachial window using water as coupling agent. Each echocardiogram included the evaluation of 19 variables, including 6 in 2D-mode, 7 in M-mode, and 6 in Doppler mode, and was performed in 5.64 minutes on average. Morphological and functional abnormalities were identified in eight turtles, including atrioventricular insufficiencies (n = 5), pericardial effusions (n = 4), increased velocity of the ventricular outflow tract (n = 1) and bradyarrhythmia (n = 2). Reference intervals could be established for the 19 parameters in the remaining individuals after excluding outliers (n = 25). Statistically significant positive correlations between weight and diastolic (0.61, P = 0.001) and systolic (0.46, P = 0.018) ventricular volumes, and diastolic ventricular diameter (0.35, P = 0.03) were identified. This study establishes an initial database for the evaluation of captive European pond turtle cardiovascular system by a simple and clinically applicable echocardiographic technique.","PeriodicalId":16054,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","volume":"117 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5818/jhms-d-23-00036","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"","JCRName":"","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) and Doppler echocardiography is considered the most practical diagnostic tool for antemortem evaluation of reptilian heart disease but has only been described in a limited number of chelonian species. Cardiac morphology and function were evaluated by ultrasonography in 35 clinically healthy, captive non-sedated European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) using 2D-mode, M-mode, and pulsed wave spectral Doppler. Turtles were placed in a temperature-controlled water tank (24-26°C, 75.2-78.8°F) for cardiac examination through the right cervicobrachial window using water as coupling agent. Each echocardiogram included the evaluation of 19 variables, including 6 in 2D-mode, 7 in M-mode, and 6 in Doppler mode, and was performed in 5.64 minutes on average. Morphological and functional abnormalities were identified in eight turtles, including atrioventricular insufficiencies (n = 5), pericardial effusions (n = 4), increased velocity of the ventricular outflow tract (n = 1) and bradyarrhythmia (n = 2). Reference intervals could be established for the 19 parameters in the remaining individuals after excluding outliers (n = 25). Statistically significant positive correlations between weight and diastolic (0.61, P = 0.001) and systolic (0.46, P = 0.018) ventricular volumes, and diastolic ventricular diameter (0.35, P = 0.03) were identified. This study establishes an initial database for the evaluation of captive European pond turtle cardiovascular system by a simple and clinically applicable echocardiographic technique.