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Echocardiographic reference ranges for sedentary donkeys in the UK
1SLR Cardiology Referrals, Plumpton Farm, Pecket Well, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire HX7 8QU, UK.
The Veterinary Record
|August 20, 2016
Summary
This study establishes echocardiographic reference ranges for UK donkeys, revealing that body weight influences 2D measurements, while gender affects the left atrial to aortic ratio. Age and heart rate did not significantly impact these cardiac variables.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Equine Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Echocardiographic reference ranges are crucial for diagnosing cardiovascular disease in donkeys.
- Previous studies have focused on working donkeys, necessitating data for sedentary populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish two-dimensional (2D) and M-mode echocardiographic reference ranges for a UK population of donkeys, including geriatric individuals.
- To investigate the influence of gender, body weight, and age on these echocardiographic variables.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiographic examinations were performed on 36 healthy donkeys (24 geldings, 12 females) aged 3-45 years and weighing 130-262 kg.
- Statistical analyses assessed the impact of gender, weight, and age on various 2D and M-mode measurements.
Main Results:
- Left atrial to aortic ratio was significantly larger in geldings compared to females (P=0.004).
- Two-dimensional measurements, including left atrial and aortic diameters, increased significantly with body weight.
- M-mode measurements were largely unaffected by weight, except for the left ventricular free wall in systole.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first UK-based echocardiographic reference ranges for sedentary donkeys across a wide age spectrum.
- Findings indicate differences compared to existing ranges for working donkeys, highlighting the importance of population-specific data.
