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Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2022; 50(06): 411-422
DOI: 10.1055/a-1925-7401
Original Article

Evaluation of diagnostic criteria in grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) with suspected atherosclerosis

Evaluation diagnostischer Kriterien bei Graupapageien (Psittacus erithacus) mit Verdacht auf Atherosklerose
Maria-E. Krautwald-Junghanns
1   Department for Birds and Reptiles, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Leipzig, Germany
,
Ulrike Schulz
2   Tierarztpraxis Richartz, Zwickau, Germany
,
Cornelia Konicek
3   Department of Small Animal Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
,
Michael Pees
4   Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
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Zusammenfassung

Ziel Atherosklerose ist eine häufige Erkrankung älterer Papageienvögel, die in Gefangenschaft mit unzureichenden Haltungsbedingungen leben. Die Diagnose beim lebenden Vogel bleibt jedoch schwierig und die Krankheit wird oft erst post mortem erkannt. In diesem Zusammenhang sollte der diagnostische Wert beschriebener Methoden bei lebenden Graupapageien (Psittacus erithacus) untersucht werden.

Material und Methoden Es wurden 7 klinisch gesunde Graupapageien und 32 Graupapageien mit Verdacht auf Atherosklerose evaluiert. Ein Gesamtbewertungssystem wurde auf der Grundlage klinischer Symptome, der Messung des Cholesterin- und Triglyceridspiegels im Blut, einer radiologischen Untersuchung und eines Echokardiogramms in B-Mode bestimmt. Darüber hinaus wurden Messungen der Blutflussgeschwindigkeit in der Aortenwurzel, der Herzfrequenz und des Geschwindigkeits-Zeit-Integrals unter Verwendung der spektralen Doppler-Ultraschallfunktion durchgeführt.

Ergebnisse Die Gesamtscoring- und Einzelmesswerte korrelierten mit radiologischen Zeichen. Messungen der Blutflussgeschwindigkeit in der Aortenwurzel zeigten hochsignifikante Unterschiede zwischen den klinisch gesunden Tieren und der Patientengruppe. Signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen wurden des Weiteren im Vergleich der Gesamtbewertung und den Voruntersuchungen gefunden.

Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse belegen, dass die Kombination der spektralen Doppler-Ultraschalluntersuchung mit anderen diagnostischen Möglichkeiten genutzt werden kann, um den Verdacht auf Atherosklerose zu erhärten und mehr Informationen über den Kreislaufstatus des Patienten zu geben.

Klinische Relevanz Die so gewonnenen Informationen ermöglichen es dem Tierarzt, eine frühe intra vitam Verdachtsdiagnose Atherosklerose zu stellen und früher mit der Behandlung zu beginnen.

Abstract

Objective Atherosclerosis is a common disease in older psittacines living in captivity with inadequate housing conditions. However, diagnosis in the living bird remains difficult and the disease is often only recognized during post mortem examination. In this context, we aimed at investigating the diagnostic value of currently reported methods in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

Material and methods 7 clinically healthy African grey parrots and 32 African grey parrots with suspected atherosclerosis were evaluated in this study. An overall scoring system was implemented based on clinical signs, measurement of blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, a radiographic exam, and an echocardiogram in B-mode. Furthermore, measurements of the blood flow velocity in the aortic root, heart rate and velocity time integral were performed using the spectral Doppler ultrasonographic function.

Results Measurements of the blood flow velocity in the aortic root showed highly significant differences between the clinically healthy group and a subset of the patient group. Significant differences between the groups also were evident concerning the results of the overall scoring and of the initial examinations.

Conclusion The results support that combining spectral Doppler ultrasonographic examination with other diagnostic options may be used to substantiate suspected atherosclerosis and provide additional information regarding the cardiovascular status of the patient.

Clinical relevance The presented findings indicate that employing the described diagnostic methods allows for an intra vitam diagnosis of atherosclerosis and therefore an earlier initiation of treatment.

Schlüsselwörter

Papageienvögel - Ante-mortem-Diagnostik - Echokardiographie - Radiologie

Key words

Psittacines - ante mortem diagnosis - echocardiography - radiology


Publication History

Received: 28 June 2021

Accepted: 07 April 2022

Article published online:
04 October 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 

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