title: Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic findings in healthy non-sedated red-eared slider terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans).
abstract: Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in six healthy young adult non-sedated terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans). The best imaging quality was obtained through the right cervical window. Base-apex inflow and outflow views were recorded, ventricular size, ventricular wall thickness and ventricular outflow tract were measured, and fractional shortening was calculated. Pulsed-wave Doppler interrogation enabled the diastolic biphasic atrio-ventricular flow and the systolic ventricular outflow patterns to be recorded. The following Doppler-derived functional parameters were calculated: early diastolic (E) and late diastolic (A) wave peak velocities, E/A ratio, ventricular outflow systolic peak and mean velocities and gradients, Velocity-Time Integral, acceleration and deceleration times, and Ejection Time. For each parameter the mean, standard deviation and 95% confidence interval were calculated. Echocardiography resulted as a useful and easy-to-perform diagnostic tool in this poorly known species that presents difficulties during evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Padua, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020, Legnaro, PD, Italy. helen.poser@unipd.it
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poser
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanella
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014426:Turtles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*