ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CLINICALLY HEALTHY FLORIDA MANATEES (TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS)

Abstract

Antemortem studies pertaining to the manatee cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems are limited despite reports of cardiac disease in postmortem specimens. The objective of this project was to develop a technique for echocardiography in the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Because of their unique anatomy, a ventral approach was employed by use of an echocardiography table designed specifically for this study. Fourteen clinically healthy, free-ranging and captive Florida manatees underwent echocardiography between the fall of 2011 and winter of 2012. Eight females and six males of various age categories were included in the study. Clear visualization of all valves and chambers was accomplished, and length and width measurements of the left atrium, peak aortic flow velocity, and ejection fraction percentage were calculated in most animals. Abnormalities observed during the study included atrioventricular regurgitation and severe right-atrial enlargement. Based on the results of this study, echocardiography in the Florida manatee is possible, which has both clinical and research implications in larger epidemiologic studies evaluating diseases of the cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular systems.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS OF CLINICALLY HEALTHY FLORIDA MANATEES (TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS)

“…limited to auscultation, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. 8 Imaging modalities, including radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, fluoroscopy, and angiography, are not possible in most animals because of their size.…”

“…Only long-axis images could be obtained because of anatomic constraints that necessitated a ventral approach. 8 Echocardiographic data collected included ejection fraction percentage (EF%), left atrial length (LAL; in centimeters), left atrial width (LAW; in centimeters), left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV; in milliliters), left ventricular end systolic volume (LVESV; in milliliters), and maximum aortic flow velocity (AVo). All measurements were made in triplicate by one researcher (ISS).…”

“…[1][2][3]16,20 Myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve, endocarditis, myocarditis, mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, cardiomyopathy, and myocardial degeneration have all been described, but their prevalence is unknown. [1][2][3]8,16,20 Each year, the majority of manatee mortality is attributed to natural or unknown causes, although in each of these categories, cardiac disease may have contributed to the animal's demise. 4 Furthermore, underlying cardiac disease may also be a contributing factor in manatee mortality caused by cold stress syndrome or in watercraft-related mortality, in which a compromised cardiovascular system may lead to a decreased ability to avoid vessels.…”

“…8 The purpose of the current study was to report various echocardiographic parameters using the established technique, as none have been established in any Sirenian species. It was expected that this information would serve as a comparison for future research and clinical diagnosis of cardiac diseases in the Florida manatee.…”

Angioarchitecture of collateral arteries of the aortic arch of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus, 1758)

“…Therefore, a solid understanding of the circulatory system is an important prerequisite for the correct interpretation of cardiovascular diseases in these species. According to Gerlach et al (), the ante‐mortem diagnosis of some cardiovascular diseases in manatees is possible through an echocardiographic evaluation. Thus, detailed anatomical descriptions of the aortic arch of the Antillean manatee are indispensable.…”