Research Article
Radiographic cardiac indices for healthy New Zealand white rabbits: A reference interval study based on echocardiography
Abstract
This research was intended to identify reference intervals for the radiographic cardiac indices [vertebral heart scale (VHS), radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD), and vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) of 58 healthy, adult New Zealand white rabbits based on echocardiography. The VHS, VLAS, and RLAD measurements were taken from contrast right lateral (R) and ventrodorsal (VD) thoracic radiographs. The correlations between these radiographic cardiac indices and echocardiographic parameters were then evaluated. The mean values with a reference interval were 7.94±0.31 vertebrae (v) (7.2-8.6 v) for R-VHS and 8.67±0.33 v (7.8-9.2 v) for VD-VHS. The median values with a reference interval were 1.5 v (1-2 v) for VLAS and 1 v (0.7-1.4 v) for RLAD. Body weight and gender had no effect on radiographic cardiac indices. There were positive correlations between all radiographic indices obtained from the R contrast radiographs and the echocardiographic parameters (rs≥0.421, P<0.0001). Excellent intraobserver agreement was determined for the radiographic measurement methods (intraclass correlation coefficients ≥0.818). The contrast thoracic radiography appears to represent a useful technique for the accurate determination of radiographic cardiac indices. The findings can be used as reference values for radiographic cardiac evaluation in both pet and laboratory rabbits.
Keywords
Rabbit radiographic left atrial dimension reference range vertebral heart scale vertebral left atrial size
Ethical Statement
This study was approved by the Animal Care Ethics Committee of Akdeniz University (No: 2023.11.009/111).
References
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- Lister AL, Buchanan JW (2000): Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in radiographs of cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 216, 210-214.
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- Moura CR, das Neves Diniz A, da Silva Moura L, et al (2015): Cardiothoracic ratio and vertebral heart scale in clinically normal black-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha, Wagler 1831). J Zoo Wildl Med, 46, 314-319.
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- Pogwizd SM, Bers DM (2008): Rabbit Models of heart disease. Drug Discov Today Dis Models, 5, 185-193.
- Puccinelli C, Citi S, Vezzosi T, et al (2021): A radiographic study of breed-specific vertebral heart score and vertebral left atrial size in Chihuahuas. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 62, 20-26.
- Sanchez Salguero X, Prandi D, Labres-Diaz F, et al (2018): A radiographic measurement of left artial size in dogs. Ir Vet J, 71, 25.
- Stepien RL, Rak MB, Blume LM (2020): Use of radiographic measurements to diagnose stage B2 preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 256, 1129-1136.
- Şirin YS, Çetinkaya MA, Kaya M (2022): The evaluation of eccentric cardiac hypertrophy due to volume overload using radiographic cardiac indices in rats. Thai J Vet Med, 52, 737-744.
- Thomas WP, Gaber CE, Jacobs GJ, et al (1993): Recommendations for standards in transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography in the dog and cat. J Vet Intern Med, 7, 247-252.
- Turner Giannico A, Garcia DAA, Lima L, et al (2015): Determination of normal echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and radiographic cardiac parameters in the conscious New Zealand White rabbit. J Exotic Pet Med, 24, 223-234.
- Wang ML, Zhang Y, Fan M, et al (2013): A rabbit model of right-sided Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis created with echocardiographic guidance. Cardivasc Ultrasound, 11, 1-7.
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Year 2025,
Volume: 72 Issue: 1, 105 - 112
Abstract
References
- Bagardi M, Locatelli C, Manfredi M, et al (2021): Breed specific vertebral heart score, vertebral left atrial size, and raidographic left atrial dimension in Cavalier King Charles Spanials: reference interval study. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 63, 156-163.
- Baisan RA, Vulpe V (2022): Vertebral heart size and vertebral left atrial size reference ranges in healthy Maltese dogs. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 63, 18-22.
- Black PA, Marshall C, Seyfried AW, et al (2001): Cardiac assessment of African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). J Zoo Wildl Med, 42, 49-53.
- Buchanan JW, Bucheler J (1995): Vertebral scale system to measure canine heart size in radiographs. JAVMA, 206, 194-199.
- Buchanan JW (2000): Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in radiographs. Vet Clin North Am Small Animal Prac, 30, 373-393.
- Çetinkaya MA, Kaya M (2022): Radiographic cardiac indices for the evaluation of cardiac and left atrial sizes in healthy Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Thai J Vet Med, 52, 485-492.
- Dancey C, Reidy J (2007): Statistics without maths for psychology. London, England: Pearson Education Limited.
- Dickson KV, Davies CW, Routh A, et al (2016): Radiographic cardiac silhouette measurement in captive livingstone’s fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii). J Zoo Wildl Med, 47, 963-969.
- Fan J, Chen Y, Yan H, et al (2018): Principles and applications of rabbit models for atherosclerosis research. J Atheroscler Thromb, 25, 213-220.
- Giraldo A, Talavera López J, Brooks G, et al (2019): Transthoracic echocardiography examination in rabbit model. J Vis Exp, 148, e59457.
- Hansson K, Häggström J, Kvart C, et al (2002): Left atrial to aortic root indices using two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography in Cavalier King Charles spaniels with and without left atrial enlargement. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 43, 568-575.
- Jepsen-Grant K, Pollard RE, Johnson LR (2012): Vertebral heart scores in eight dog breeds. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 54, 3-8.
- Kaya M, Çetinkaya MA, Besne D (2024): The quantitative evaluation of cardiac structures and major thoracic vessels dimensions by means of lateral contrast radiography in Wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Ankara Univ Vet Fak Derg. 71, 81-87.
- Keene BW, Atkins CE, Bonagura JD, et al (2019): ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Vet Intern Med, 33, 1127-1140.
- Lamb CR, Wikeley H, Boswood A, et al (2001): Use of breed-specific ranges for the vertebral heart scale as an aid to the radiographic diagnosis of cardiac disease in dogs. Vet Record, 148, 707-711.
- Lister AL, Buchanan JW (2000): Vertebral scale system to measure heart size in radiographs of cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 216, 210-214.
- Malcom EL, Visser LC, Phillips KL, et al (2018): Diagnostic value of vertebral left atrial size as determined from thoracic radyographs for assesment of left artial size in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 253, 1038-1054.
- Mikawa S, Nagakawa M, Ogi H, et al (2020): Use of vertebral left atrial size for staging of dogs with myxomatous valve disease. J Vet Cardiol, 30, 92-99.
- Moarabi A, Mosallanejad B, Ghadiri A, et al (2015): Radiographic measurement of vertebral heart scale (VHS) in New Zealand white rabbits. Iranian J Vet Surg, 10, 37-41.
- Moura CR, das Neves Diniz A, da Silva Moura L, et al (2015): Cardiothoracic ratio and vertebral heart scale in clinically normal black-rumped agoutis (Dasyprocta prymnolopha, Wagler 1831). J Zoo Wildl Med, 46, 314-319.
- Nakayama H, Nakayama T, Hamlin RL, et al (2001): Correlation of cardiac enlargement as assessed by vertebral heart size and echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings in dogs with evolving cardiomegaly due to rapid ventricular pacing. J Vet Intern Med, 15, 217-221.
- Ngosurachet N, Tangtraitha T, Kaewyara P, et al (2022): A study of standard values of two-dimensional, M-mode and doppler echocardiography in conscious small domestic rabbits. Thai J Vet Med, 52, 543-549.
- Oliveira CS, Pinto CF, Itikawa PH, et al (2014): Radiographic evaluation of cardiac silhouette in healthy Maine Coon cats. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 35, 2501-2506.
- Onuma M, Ono S, Ishida T, et al (2010): Radiographic measurement of cardiac size in 27 rabbits. J Vet Med Sci, 72, 529-531.
- Orcutt CJ, Malakoff RL (2021): Cardiovascular Disease. Pp: 250-257. In Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW, (Eds). Ferrets, rabbits, and rodents: clinical medicine and surgery. Elsevier, Missouri.
- Ozawa S, Shanchez-Migallon Guzman D, Keel K, et al (2021): Clinical and pathological findings in rabbits with cardiovascular disease: 59 case (2001-2018). JAVMA, 259, 764-776.
- Pariaut R (2009): Cardiovascular physiology and diseases of the rabbit. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract, 12, 135-144.
- Pogwizd SM, Bers DM (2008): Rabbit Models of heart disease. Drug Discov Today Dis Models, 5, 185-193.
- Puccinelli C, Citi S, Vezzosi T, et al (2021): A radiographic study of breed-specific vertebral heart score and vertebral left atrial size in Chihuahuas. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 62, 20-26.
- Sanchez Salguero X, Prandi D, Labres-Diaz F, et al (2018): A radiographic measurement of left artial size in dogs. Ir Vet J, 71, 25.
- Stepien RL, Rak MB, Blume LM (2020): Use of radiographic measurements to diagnose stage B2 preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 256, 1129-1136.
- Şirin YS, Çetinkaya MA, Kaya M (2022): The evaluation of eccentric cardiac hypertrophy due to volume overload using radiographic cardiac indices in rats. Thai J Vet Med, 52, 737-744.
- Thomas WP, Gaber CE, Jacobs GJ, et al (1993): Recommendations for standards in transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography in the dog and cat. J Vet Intern Med, 7, 247-252.
- Turner Giannico A, Garcia DAA, Lima L, et al (2015): Determination of normal echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and radiographic cardiac parameters in the conscious New Zealand White rabbit. J Exotic Pet Med, 24, 223-234.
- Wang ML, Zhang Y, Fan M, et al (2013): A rabbit model of right-sided Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis created with echocardiographic guidance. Cardivasc Ultrasound, 11, 1-7.
- Wiphusunti P, Chukanhom K, Kanistanon K, et al (2020): Understanding cardiac parameters in rabbits using chest radiography and electrocardiography. KKU Vet J, 30, 71-78.
There are 36 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary Diagnosis and Diagnostics |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | June 28, 2024 |
| Publication Date | |
| Submission Date | November 29, 2023 |
| Acceptance Date | March 11, 2024 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025Volume: 72 Issue: 1 |
