title: ESTABLISHMENT OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS OF CLINICALLY HEALTHY FLORIDA MANATEES (TRICHECHUS MANATUS LATIROSTRIS).
abstract: A standardized echocardiographic technique was recently established for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). There are no available published data on normal echocardiographic parameters in any Sirenian species. The purpose of this study was to report reference parameters for various echocardiographic measurements. These parameters are intended to serve as a comparison for future research into the prevalence of cardiac diseases in the manatee and to aid in diagnosing animals with suspected cardiac disease in rehabilitation facilities. Annual health assessments of free-ranging manatees in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, and pre-release health assessments of rehabilitated manatees at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo permitted comparison of echocardiographic measurements in adult (n=14), subadult (n=7), and calf (n=8) animals under manual restraint.
authors.forename: Trevor J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Gerlach
authors.forename: Amara H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Ivan S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Kenneth E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Ray L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: Mike T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D020457:Trichechus manatus / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Echocardiography; Florida manatee; Trichechus manatus latirostris; free-ranging; heart