Ultrasonographic examination of the stomach, duodenum and jejunum of normal adult spiti horses and Himalayan hill mules of India

Abstract

The study was conducted on equids of high altitude to develop baseline topographical data of landmarks, sonographic calliper measurements and dynamic parameters of abdominal organs. Ultrasonography was performed on healthy adult spiti horses and Himalayan mules of either sex. The wall thickness, contractility, character and echo-architecture of these organs were recorded for standardization. The stomach was found between 8th-15th and 8th-14th Inter-Costal Space (ICS) with wall thickness of 4.92 ± 0.23 and 4.24 ± 0.06 mm in horses and mules, respectively. Ascending duodenum was found between 11th-13th and 10th-13th ICS with a wall thickness of 2.0 ± 0.00 and 1.96 ± 0.04 mm in horses and mules, respectively. Descending duodenum was found from 16th and 15th ICS to just caudal to the last rib in horses and mules, respectively. Jejunum was found from 12th (±1) to 17th ICS with wall thickness of 2.04 ± 0.04 and 2.02 ± 0.02 mm in horses and mules, respectively. Detailed ultrasonographic examination of these organs helped to compile baseline data, which will be useful in future in management of the affections of stomach, duodenum and jejunum.