CardiOvascular examination in awake Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus): Low-stress Echocardiography including Speckle Tracking imaging (the COOLEST method)

Abstract

Introduction Cardiovascular diseases have been identified as a major cause of mortality and morbidity in Borneo orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus). Transthoracic echocardiography is usually performed under anesthesia in great apes, which may be stressful and increase risks of peri-anesthetic complications in case of cardiac alteration. The aim of the present pilot study was hence to develop a quick and non-stressful echocardiographic method (i.e., the COOLEST method) in awake Borneo orangutans (CardiOvascular examination in awake Orangutans: Low-stress Echocardiography including Speckle Tracking imaging) and assess the variability of corresponding variables. Materials and methods Four adult Borneo orangutans trained to present their chest to the trainers were involved. A total of 96 TTE examinations were performed on 4 different days by a trained observer examining each orangutan 6 times per day. Each examination included four two-dimensional views, with offline assessment of 28 variables (i.e., two-dimensional (n = 12), M-mode and anatomic M-mode (n = 6), Doppler (n = 7), and speckle tracking imaging (n = 3)), representing a total of 2,688 measurements. A general linear model was used to determine the within-day and between-day coefficients of variation. Results Mean±SD (minimum-maximum) images acquisition duration was 3.8±1.6 minutes (1.3–6.3). All within-day and between-day coefficients of variation but one (n = 55/56, 98%) were <15%, and most (51/56, 91%) were <10% including those of speckle tracking systolic strain variables (2.7% to 5.4%). Discussion Heart morphology as well as global and regional myocardial function can be assessed in awake orangutans with good to excellent repeatability and reproducibility. Conclusions This non-stressful method may be used for longitudinal cardiac follow-up in awake orangutans.

Characterization of sinoatrial automaticity in Microcebus murinus to study the effect of aging on cardiac activity and the correlation with longevity

“…HR, maximal life expectancy, body size and the resulting number of heartbeats per lifetime were obtained from data available in the literature for different mammals including 10 species of primates, 12 species of rodents and 9 species of domestic mammals from different orders. In particular we took in consideration the species GML, common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) 80,81 , squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) 82,83 , capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella) 66 , rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) 84,85 , chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) 86 , Babouin hamadryas (Papio hamadryas) 87 , orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) 88 and gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) 89 , in comparison to humans 55 for the primate order; mouse 45 , hamster 64,90 , rat 47 , Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) 91,92 guinea pig 93 , red North American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) 2 , muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) 94 , marmot (Marmota monax) 95 , capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) 96,97 , agouti (Dasyprocta primnolopha) 98 , North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) 95 , north american beaver (Castor canadensis) 94 for rodents and rabbit 99 , dog 99,100 , sheep 101 , cat 102 , pig 103 , goat 104,105 , donkey 106 , horse 107 and camel 108 for the domestic mammals. HR were reported from results obta...…”