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

Rupture of chorda tendineae of the tricuspid valve in a horse: a case report

A2-year-old cachectic cross-breed gelding was admitted to Veterinary Teaching Hospital of University of Tehran following the onset of a marked respiratory distress, coughing and ventral edema. Clinical examinations indicated harsh respiratory and expiratory sounds as well as jugular vein distention. The respiratory and heart rates were 35/min and 60 bpm, respectively. A grade III/IV pansystolic murmur with the PMI on the tricuspid valve, which could be heard on the left side, was detected. Sinus tachycardia was revealed by electrocardiography. Rupture of the chorda tendineae of the tricuspid valve, pulmonary artery regurgitation, pulmonary artery hypertension, tricuspid valve regurgitation, pulmonary artery, and right ventricular dilation were also found in echocardiography. These findings were confirmed at post mortem examinations. On the basis of the findings, chorda tendineae rapture of the tricuspid valve and right side heart failure due to primary pulmonary hypertension were diagnosed

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

Pleural effusion and cardiac displacement in a heifer: a case report

A 16-month-old Holstein heifer with a history of anorexia and respiratory distress was referred to the Veterinary Research and Teaching Hospital of Tehran University. Heart and lung sounds were inaudible on the left side but greatly increased on the right side. On electrocardiography [ECG], decreased amplitudes of ECG parameters were observed. Ultrasonography results revealed a pleural effusion with fibrin deposition. After the removal of 30 liters of pleural fluid, the amplitudes of the P, QRS, and T complexes increased markedly, and heart and lung sounds on the left side gradually increased. Archanobacterium pyogenes was isolated from bacteriological cultures of the pleural fluid. According to the clinical and paraclihical findings, cardiac displacement due to pleural effusion was diagnosed