Reference intervals of echocardiographic measurements in healthy adult dairy goats.

Olga Szaluś-Jordanow,Tadeusz Frymus,Marcin Mickiewicz,Jarosław Kaba,Michał Czopowicz,Iwona Markowska-Daniel,Emilia Bagnicka,Lucjan Witkowski

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0183293

Olga Szaluś-Jordanow, Tadeusz Frymus + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183293

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Abstract

ObjectivesTo determine references intervals for echocardiographic measurements in adult dairy goats.Animals125 clinically healthy, adult dairy goats aged 2–9 years, belonging to two breeds–Polish Fawn Improved (PFI, n = 64, weight range from 46 to 73, median of 58.5kg) and Polish White Improved (PWI, n = 61, weight range from 48 to 80 kg, median of 67.9kg), closely related to French Alpine and Saanen, respectively.MethodsNon-invasive transthoracic echocardiography examination was performed in unsedated goats in a standing position. Two-dimensional, M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler measurements were obtained. A non-parametric method was applied for determination of reference intervals. Measurements for the two breeds were compared using an analysis of covariance to control for their body weight. Repeatability was assessed using a between-day coefficient of variation and a coefficient of repeatability.ResultsFollowing reference intervals were determined: aortic diameter in diastole 2.2–3.3, left atrial diameter in systole 2.5–4.3cm cm, the ratio of the left atrial diameter to the aortic diameter 0.96–1.5, right ventricular internal diameter in diastole 0.4–1.7cm, left ventricular internal diameter in systole and diastole 1.8–3.2 and 3.2–5.6 cm, respectively, inter-ventricular septum thickness in systole and diastole 0.7–1.5 and 0.5–1.1cm, respectively, left ventricular posterior-wall in systole and diastole 0.8–1.6 and 0.5–1.2cm, respectively, E-point to septal separation 0.3–0.8cm, left ventricular fractional shortening 28–54%, left ventricular ejection fraction 55–86%, maximum Left and Right Ventricular Outflow Tract velocity 80–140 cm/s and 70–130 cm/s, respectively Left and Right Ventricular Outflow Tract pressure gradient 2.5–8.9mmHg and 1.9–6.5mmHg, respectively. Most of the differences between the two breeds could be attributed to different body weight.ConclusionsThe study provides echocardiographic reference intervals determined on the highest sample of apparently healthy goats so far enrolled.

Highlights

Since the use of echocardiography in a goat was first reported in 1992[1] six studies regarding this subject have been carried out–one on Swedish domestic goats[2], one on Philippines native goats[3], three on Saneen goats [4,5,6] and one on a mixed sample of Saneen and Golden Guernsey goats[7]
Most of the differences between the two breeds could be attributed to different body weight
The study provides echocardiographic reference intervals determined on the highest sample of apparently healthy goats so far enrolled

Summary

Introduction

Since the use of echocardiography in a goat was first reported in 1992[1] six studies regarding this subject have been carried out–one on Swedish domestic goats[2], one on Philippines native goats[3], three on Saneen goats [4,5,6] and one on a mixed sample of Saneen and Golden Guernsey goats[7]. They all proved that echocardiography was as a safe and convenient diagnostic test in goats like in any other animal species.

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