Assessment of liver steatosis in chicken by using acoustic radiation force impulse imaging: preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging as a non-invasive tool for quantification of the grades of liver steatosis in chickens.


METHODS
We used two different diets: a standard diet (SD group) and a hyperlipidaemic diet (HD group). The ARFI technique was performed in all the animals in the right hepatic lobe and shear wave velocity (SWV) was measured and expressed in metres per second (m/s). Plasma lipid levels were analysed. Steatosis was quantified by using semiquantitative analysis. Statistical analysis was used and Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated.


RESULTS
Mean SWV was 0.94 ± 0.16 m/s (range 0.8-1.3 m/s) in the SD group and 1.91 ± 0.25 m/s (range 1.3-2.2 m/s) in the HD group (p < 0.001). The lowest SWVs (≤1.3 m/s) corresponded to the chickens in the SD group, with 100% of the animals returning a score of 0, whereas the range of SWV in the HD group chickens was between 1.6 and 2.2 m/s. A substantial correlation was observed between SWVs with histological semiquantitative analysis of steatosis (r = 0.85, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
ARFI imaging is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that allows discrimination between the grades of liver steatosis in chickens.
Guzmán Aroca
Florentina
F
Department of Radiology, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, 30120, El Palmar, Murcia, Spain.
Ayala
Ignacio
I
Serrano
Laura
L
Berná-Serna
Juan D
JD
Castell
María T
MT
García-Pérez
Bartolomé
B
Reus
Manuel
M
D000162:Acoustics; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D015415:Biomarkers
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