title: Contrast echocardiography for analysis of heart anatomy in tortoises.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The cardiac anatomy in tortoises depicted on B-mode and color-Doppler should be better differentiated by additional contrast-echocardiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  An intravenous contrast agent (INN-sulphur hexafluoride [SonoVue®]) was injected in four tortoises (three Testudo hermanni, one Agrionemys horsfieldii), via the coccygeal vein, with parallel B-mode echocardiographic examination. The results of the contrast-enhanced echocardiography were compared with the contrast-free B-mode recordings and color-Doppler ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of SonoVue® enabled clearer distinction of the cardiac structures, differentiation of the arising major arteries, identification of wash-out-shunts, and visualization of blood flow patterns throughout the tortoise heart.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study enables the accurate depiction and differentiation of cardiac anatomy in tortoises through the use of a combination of B-mode, color-Doppler and contrast-echocardiography. Basic knowledge of blood flow in the reptile heart is essential to understand echocardiographic anatomy. Blood-flow-patterns and anatomy of the tortoise heart as found in this study will help to establish a basis for further echocardiographic examinations of these animals.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Maike Prütz, Clinic for Pets, Reptiles, Pet and Feral Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany, E-Mail: mpruetz@gmx.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prütz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hungerbühler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laß
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mathes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014426:Turtles / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
keywords: Reptile; contrast-enhanced ultrasound; heart; tortoise; ultrasonography