Reference Values and Repeatability of Pulsed Wave Doppler Echocardiography Parameters in Normal Donkeys

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Cardiology
• Echocardiography
• Comparative Physiology

Background:

• Echocardiographic reference values are essential for assessing cardiovascular health in animals.
• Donkeys, as a unique species, require specific reference data for accurate diagnostic interpretation.
• Pulsed Wave Doppler echocardiography offers detailed hemodynamic information.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference values for Pulsed Wave Doppler echocardiographic variables in clinically healthy adult donkeys.
• To assess the repeatability of these echocardiographic measurements.
• To provide a foundational dataset for future cardiovascular research in donkeys.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2-dimensional Color flow mapping and spectral Doppler modes in 30 healthy donkeys.
• Measured key hemodynamic parameters for the mitral valve, aortic valve, and myocardial performance.
• Analyzed variables including velocity, pressure gradients, durations, indices (PI, RI), and time integrals (VTI).

Main Results:

• Established mean values for mitral valve (E-wave, A-wave) and aortic valve parameters.
• Determined reference ranges for mitral valve area, pressure half time, pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and velocity time integral (VTI).
• Reported values for myocardial performance, including ejection time, isovolumic relaxation/contraction times, and the LV-Tei Index.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully provides comprehensive reference values for Pulsed Wave Doppler echocardiography in normal adult donkeys.
• These established values are vital for identifying and managing cardiovascular abnormalities in veterinary clinical practice.
• This research contributes essential data for comparative cardiovascular studies and veterinary diagnostics.