title: Echocardiographic and radiographic findings in a cohort of healthy adult green iguanas (Iguana iguana).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe characteristics of echocardiography and cranial coelomic radiography in a cohort of iguanas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty apparently healthy adult green iguanas (Iguana iguana) from a reptile sanctuary.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical examination, radiography, two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography were performed to assess cardiac structures and function, and any related normal or abnormal findings were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Echocardiographic examination was possible without sedation and allowed visualization of the great vessels, atria, and ventricle. Some structures could not be evaluated in a minority of the iguanas due to individual differences in bony conformation and imaging quality. Suspected abnormal echocardiographic findings in 3 iguanas included pericardial effusion (n = 1) and enlarged caudal vena cava and/or sinus venosus (n = 2). Objective measurements were repeatable as assessed by within-subject coefficient of variation, and reliable as assessed by intra-observer intraclass correlation coefficient. Left atrial and ventricular measurements were significantly correlated with body weight. Valve regurgitation was common, with atrioventricular valve regurgitation present in 53% (9/17) and aortic or pulmonic valve regurgitation in 71% (12/17) of otherwise normal iguanas. A heart murmur was not appreciated during examination of any of the iguanas. Heart size cannot be measured radiographically due to superimposition and silhouetting of other coelomic structures. Echocardiographic or radiographic findings consistent with mineralization of the great vessels were present in 76% of iguanas (13/17).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echocardiography in iguanas is well tolerated without sedation and allowed both subjective evaluation and structural measurements. Valve regurgitation and great vessel mineralization were commonly observed in this cohort of apparently healthy adult iguanas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. Electronic address: kategustavsen+dvm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kate A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gustavsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Comparative Cardiovascular Sciences and Biomedical Devices, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Randolph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Sharman M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hoppes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D007076:Iguanas / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000662:veterinary; D012016:Reference Values
keywords: Cardiac; Heart; Reptile; Ultrasound; Valve regurgitation