Measurements of the radiographic cardiac silhouette of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and report measurements of the radiographic cardiac silhouette of healthy juvenile and adult ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). ANIMALS 54 ospreys (22 adults, 19 juveniles, and 13 birds of undetermined age) without clinical signs of cardiac disease and with adequate ventrodorsal radiographic images for cardiac silhouette assessment. PROCEDURES Radiographs of ospreys were assessed to determine cardiac width at the widest point as well as sternal width and thoracic width at the same level. Two-way mixed-effects models were used to evaluate interrater reliability for mean rating. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to create predictive models of cardiac width and to establish a theoretical reference range for healthy ospreys. RESULTS Cardiac width of healthy ospreys was approximately 90% to 92% of sternal width and 67% to 69% of thoracic width. Both sternal width and thoracic width were significant predictors of cardiac width in independent predictive models as well as in a combined model after controlling for age. Thirty-four of 41 (83%) measured cardiac widths were within the theoretical reference range. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Ospreys are sentinels used in monitoring environmental health. Environmental factors may have an impact on the cardiac health of ospreys, but reference values for healthy ospreys have not been established for use in assessing cardiomegaly in this species. The radiographic ratios and predictive model obtained in this study may be useful for objective evaluation of cardiomegaly in ospreys.

Radiographic Measurements of Internal Organs in Rhode Island Red Hybrid Hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and Their Evolution During Egg Formation

“…In laying hens, as previously described, egg position was observed to rotate. 15 However, no specific pattern could be identified in the present study. These rotations were observed at different times and not in all chickens, with the blunt end of the egg often found cranially (as described) but sometimes caudally too.…”

“…Interestingly, this pattern is the exact opposite of the evolution of eggshell density evaluated radiographically in another chicken study. 15 It appears that in our group of laying hens that approximately 5 hours after oviposition the calcium deposition starts on the next egg, with a rapid increase in the eggshell thickness for the first 5 hours that is followed by an increase in the density of the eggshell. This study also showed that if the laying time is not known in a given hen, it can be approximated by measuring eggshell thickness, if present.…”

“…The final 1808 rotation of the blunt end from the cranial to caudal position in the last hour before oviposition, as previously described, was not observed in the present study, but may have been associated with the frequency of taking the radiographs (eg, every 2 hours). 15 Finally, eggshell thickness also showed high intraobserver and interobserver error but was likely because of the small absolute values for this measurement (,1 mm). Most radiographic measurements were significantly lower in juvenile than adult hens.…”

Radiographic Measurements of the Cardiac Silhouette and Comparison with Other Radiographic Landmarks in Wild Galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla)

“…To improve the accuracy of the diagnosis, many studies have attempted to establish reference values of the cardiac silhouette in different avian species, including African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), Senegal parrots (Poicephalus senegalus), orange-winged Amazon parrots (Amazona amazonica), blue-fronted Amazon parrots (Amazona aestiva), budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), Spix's macaws (Cyanopsitta spixii), peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), Harris's hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus), saker falcons (Falco cherrug), lanner falcons (Falco biarmicus), red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), screech owls (Otus asio), Canada geese (Branta canadensis), common kestrels (Falco tinnunculus), Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata), and Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. The correlations measured between the heart size and stable points in the body could be used to direct the practitioner and identify alterations in heart size.…”