Echocardiographic findings in athletic horses with pulmonary regurgitation

Determining the clinical significance of cardiac murmurs is widely considered in equine practice. Pulmonary murmurs are commonly detected in athletic horses. Echocardiography plays a leading role in assessment of these murmurs. Echocardiographic evaluation of horses with pulmonary regurgitation and determining the importance of pulmonary valve murmurs. A total number of 450 athletic horses were examined with focus on cardiac and respiratory systems and 18 horses [8 horses with pulmonary murmur grades 3 and 4 and 10 normal horses] were included in echocardiographic examination. B-mode, M-mode, color flow Doppler and spectral Doppler were performed on two groups and the calculated indices were compared. No statistical difference was found between the values of the two groups [p<0.05]. No significant correlation was found between severity of murmurs grade and the severity of regurgitating jets. We found that with moderate grades of pulmonary regurgitation, no change in cardiac indices is present

[Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography and radiology in radial critical-sized defects healing process in rabbit]

Healing of Critical-Sized Defects [CSDs] is one of the major challenges facing orthopedic surgeons. To assess the bone healing process usually plain radiography is used. Serial radiography results in certain side effects and recent findings are indicating the early detection of bone healing via ultrasonography. The purpose of current study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of radiography and ultrasonography in healing process of radial CSDs in rabbit. Sixteen New Zealand White Rabbits were used in this study. The radial CSDs of 15 mm size were created in a routine surgical procedure described previously and the two diagnostic tools were compared 12 weeks post-surgery. In case of obtaining different results from radiology and ultrasonography, to determine which diagnostic imaging method is of more accuracy, the histopathologic results of samples from the same day were used. In 15 cases of 16, ultrasonography findings were confirmed by radiography and only in one case they were in contradiction, in which radiographs showed an Atrophic Nonunion while Ultrasound detected an outstanding filled defect with a reverberation artifact underneath. In histopathology, the defect was filled with an osteoid matrix of high cellularity and calcification was obvious in some regions, confirming the ultrasound results. This study indicates that in diagnostic imaging of CSDs, the ultrasonography and radiography are usually consonant and even ultrasound is more accurate than radiology. In addition, in case of detection of a reverberation artifact and lack of any healing-related finding in radiography, this artifact may be an indication of osteoid matrix formation

Radiographic measurements of front feet of the sound Akhal-Teke horses

The Akhal-Teke is an ancient horse originating from Asia where it was used by nomadic tribes and used as a warhorse. Lameness examinations require proper interpretation of clinical and radiographic findings. Therefore, understanding of normal radiographic findings of the foot is necessary. Although the radiographic appearance of the normal foot must be understood to recognize abnormalities, there are no studies examining the normal hoof and digital soft tissues in Akhal-Teke horses. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine a normal radiographic appearance and morpho-metry of the distal phalanx and its related soft tissue in mature Akhal-Teke racehorses without any clinical signs of lameness and foot problems. Radiography of the distal phalanx and associated soft-tissue structures of the front feet of 10 healthy pure Akhal-Teke horses were performed to determine normal radiographic appearance and morphometry. Lateromedial radiographic views of each front distal phalanx were used to measure important distances, angles and ratios of the hoof wall. All the measurements from lateromedial radiographs were multiplied by the magnification correction factor to gain the actual distances. Mean +/- SD thickness of the soft tissues dorsal to the middle aspect of distal phalanx was 18.3 +/- 1.22 mm. There was not any significant difference between left and right digits for any radiographic determination. This study introduced S-Founder and CF-Founder as important criteria in evaluating laminitis and sinking of P3

Normal pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic parameters of Turkmen horses of Iran

Turkmen horse is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world, but there is no information on Doppler echocardiographic parameters in this horse. In the present study, pulsed-wave [PW] Doppler echocardiography was performed on 42 clinically normal 3- to 15-year-old racing Turkmen horses. No cardiac disease was detected with two-dimensional [2-D] real-time, M-mode, and colour flow mapping. Doppler echocardiographic parameters and indices of tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary and aortic flows were measured in this study. Tricuspid inflow velocities during rapid filling [E] and atrial contractions [A] were significantly higher than mitral inflow [P<0.05]. The Doppler waveforms, obtained from the aortic outflow, showed a significantly longer pre-ejection period [PEP] and shorter ejection time [ET] than the pulmonary artery waveforms [P=0.001 and P=0.028, respectively]. The time taken from the onset of the QRS complex to the onset of the A wave for tricuspid flow, pulmonary PEP, and pulmonary PEP/ET, had a significant positive correlation with age. These values can be used as standard and reference values for evaluation of cardiovascular disorders in Turkmen horse

Footpad horn hypertrophy and vertical fissure accompanied by white line disease 2 in case of concurrent deep digital sepsis in a culling cow

A5.2 year-old Holstein cow was presented with lameness and abnormal weight bearing in a slaughterhouse. Widening of the periople and swelling of the heel area in the lateral claw was more permanent than the medial claw. Vertical fissure [VF] involving the coronary band to the middle of the dorsal wall of the medial hind claw was observed. It was also extended to the bearing surface in the inner surface of the claw wall. White line disease 2 [WLD2] was seen in the length of VF on the bearing surface. The horn of the bulb apex of the lateral hind claw was hypertrophic. There was a groove in the footpad between the apex and base of the bulb too. Grosspathologically, the digital bones showed a wide range of bone changes such as new bone formation, pedal osteolysis and bony ankylosis. The hind leg was amputated at the tarsus immediately after slaughter. The lower limbs of lame cows were examined and the type and distribution of digital lesions were tabulated. An x-ray machine was used in this study to take radiographic images. The radiographic images taken from the involved digits of the affected case depicted a quite wide range of radiographic signs. After the first review of the X-ray film, samples were selected for further procedures through putrefaction. Laminitis may have affected this case at some previous time. Routine trimming seems to have prevented the premature culling in the cows with claw lesion

Ultrasonography study of tendons and ligaments of metacarpal region in the camel [Camelus dromedarius]

Twelve left camel forelimbs were collected, and Ultrasonography was performed at five different levels around the metacarpal region. Limbs were then cut in the transverse plane at levels corresponding to the ultrasound images. Transverse and sagittal plane images were taken at each of the five levels, keeping all ultrasound imaging factors constant. Echogenicity, diameter, width and cross sectional area of the superficial digital flexor tendon [SDFT], deep digital flexor tendon [DDFT] and suspensory ligament [SL] were evaluated. Characteristics of echogenicity and different tendon and ligament sizes were measured and discussed

Normal left ventricular systolic time intervals assessed by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography in the Turkmen horse of Iran

The Turkmen horse is one of the oldest and purest breeds in the world. There is no information with regards to the normal echocardiographic parameters of this horse regarding to cardiac diseases. Pulsed-wave [PW] Doppler echocardiography was performed on 42 clinically normal 3-to 15-year-old racing Turkmen horses. There were 26 stallions and 16 mares. The left ventricular isovolumetric contraction time, pre-ejection period [PEP], and the left ventricular ejection time [LVET], were measured, and the values of the left ventricular total electromechanical systole [LVTES] and the PEP-to-LVET ratio were calculated. The most suitable window for the measurement of the aforementioned indices in PW Doppler echocardiography was the left parasternal window using the five-chamber apical view. The following values were acquired in PW Doppler echocardiography: PEP = 0.088 +/- 0.018 s; LVET = 0.445 +/- 0.031 s; LVTES - 0.533 +/- 0.032 s; and PEP-to-LVET = 0.199 +/- 0.046. These measurements can be used in the future as standard and reference values for the evaluation of cardiovascular disorders in the Turkmen horse

unusual case of nasal mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus oryzae in a German shepherd dog

This study represents an unusual case of mucormycosis localized in nasal cavity of a German shepherd dog. The patient was a 1-year-old male guard dog with unilateral nasal epistaxis, mucopurulent nasal discharge, sneezing and nose pawing. The dog had a history of head trauma about 2 months before admission, which was associated with mild self-limited epistaxis. Initial nasal rhinoscopy showed severe turbinate destruction. The samples of nasal discharge were collected by nasal flush technique and submitted to the Central Laboratory of School of Veterinary Medicine in Tehran for routine cytological, mycological and bacteriological examinations. Direct microscopic examination with 10% KOH/DMSO wet mount revealed the fragments of non-septate hyphae. The fungus was recovered in culture and identified as Rhizopus oryzae. This case showed that the veterinary practitioners should be aware of the possibility of localized nasal mucormycosis when examining dogs with chronic nasal discharge

Normal color and pulsed waved doppler ultrasonography of femoral artery in rabbits

Doppler ultrasound can provide important information about vascular problems through the analysis of blood flow wave-form. The purpose of this study was obtaining the normal images of color Doppler and estimation of blood flow velocity parameters of femoral artery in rabbits. Left and right femoral arteries of 8 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were evaluated. Color and spectral doppler images of the artery were obtained. Values of peak systolic velocity [PSV], end diastolic velocity [EDV], resistive index [RI] and pulsatility index [PI] were measured. Color doppler showed a laminar flow with aliasing artifact in the center of flow due to higher velocity. Moderate to high resistance flow pattern with diphasic flow velocity and blunted profile were observed in spectral wave-form analysis of pulsed doppler. Results of this study may be useful as baseline in haemodynamic evaluation of femoral artery and evaluation of diseases such as thromboembolism and arterial stenosis in rabbits as an animal model

Diagnosis of retinal detachment by using ultrasonography in several horses with cataract

Diagnosis of retinal detachment by usingultrasonography. 3 horses. Clinical examination and diagnosis ofdisorder on the basis of ultrasonographic findings with7.5 MHz probe and real time B. mode technique,transpalpebrally. Ultrasonography showed echodense linearstructures resulted in classic funnel appearance ofvitreous in one case and convex hyperechoic lineardensity of the back of globe in two cases. Ultrasonographic findings werecharacteristic of complete retinal detachment in one caseand partial retinal detachment in two cases

Cervical sialoceles [salivary mucoceles] in German shepherd dogs: Review of 3 cases

To identify clinical, ultrasonographic andhistopathological features of cervical sialoceles [salivarymucoceles] in dogs. Retrospective study. Three German shepherd dog. Case records of three dogs that underwentsurgery to remove a cervical sialocele at the University ofTehran Small Animal Hospital were reviewed forsignalment, clinical signs, Ultrasonographic findings andhistopathology. The dogs were male German shepherd withaverage age of 4 years. In all dogs, the masses werelocated in the right cranioventral cervical region.Ultrasonography showed echo texture masses withaccumulation of fluid. The masses removed surgically.Macroscopically, the masses were round, relativelylabulated, and fluctuant with a thick, fibrous capsule.Microscopic examination revealed parotid sialocele inone case and mandibular sialocele in the other two cases.Coagulative necrosis in one case and secondary infectionin the other were observed. There were no recurrences ofthe masses after at least 6 month to 2 years from theoperation. Comparison of these results withstudies by other authors showed that surgical excision ofaffected salivary glands is the treatment of choice forsialocele. Histopathologically, the wall of sialocelesconsists of an outer, highly vascularized layer ofimmature connective tissue and an inner zone of looselyarranged fibroblasts. A pleocellular inflammatoryreactionis evident in the central area, which also containsmuch amorphous acidophilic or amphophilic debris