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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography of normal external ...
BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 345; doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03441-y

B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography of normal external jugular vein in donkeys (Equus asinus).

Abstract: Although the jugular vein is a major important blood vessel in equine, the literature lacks this vessel's normal B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic examinations in donkeys. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the reference ranges of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic indices of jugular veins in healthy adult donkeys (Equus asinus) and the possible effect of examination side (left and right), gender, and body condition on the ultrasonographic measurements of this vessel. B-mode and Doppler ultrasound imaging of the external jugular vein was conducted on 20 adult healthy donkeys of both sexes. Results: In all donkeys, the jugular vein was 4.01 to 8.1 mm from the body surface. The longitudinal and transverse venous diameters ranged from 3.94 to 10.5 mm and from 0.88 to 1.9 cm, respectively. Moreover, the vein areas varied from 0.61 to 2.83 cm. The reference values of superficial and deep wall thickness (SWT and DWT) were 0.56 ± 0.2 and 0.6 ± 0.13 mm, respectively. The blood velocity, blood follow rate, and congestion index of the external jugular vein can be expected in adult healthy donkeys as a range value from 8.4 to 13.5 cm/sec, from 0.33 to 1.78 ml/min, and from 0.06 to 0.27 cm.sec, respectively. Generally, the vein showed laminar monophasic waveforms. The examination side and gender have no significant effect on the ultrasound measurements of the vein (P > 0.05). Donkeys with a body condition score (BCS) ≥ 3 revealed increases in the depth of the vein (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study can be used as reference values and provide a basis for comparison when evaluating donkeys with diseases that affect blood flow in the external jugular vein.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-14 PubMed ID: 36104788PubMed Central: PMC9472444DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03441-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research presents the reference values for B-mode and Doppler ultrasound measurements of the external jugular vein in healthy adult donkeys, thereby offering a comparison base when evaluating donkeys with diseases affecting blood flow in this vein.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study primarily aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding the normal B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic examinations of the jugular vein in donkeys. The jugular vein is a significant blood vessel in equine species and knowing its normal parameters is important for diagnostic purposes.
  • To achieve this, the researchers conducted B-mode and Doppler ultrasound imaging on the external jugular vein of 20 healthy adult donkeys of both sexes.
  • They sought to establish reference ranges for several ultrasonographic indices, including depth from body surface, longitudinal and transverse venous diameter, vein areas, superficial and deep wall thickness, blood velocity, blood flow rate, and congestion index.
  • The study also investigated any effects of examination side (left and right), gender, and the animal’s body condition on the ultrasound measurements.

Results

  • The results provided a range of measurements determined from the healthy donkeys. The jugular vein was found to be 4.01 to 8.1 mm from the body surface, with venous diameters ranging from 3.94 to 10.5 mm (longitudinally) and from 0.88 to 1.9 cm (transversely). The vein areas varied between 0.61 to 2.83 cm.
  • Superficial and deep wall thickness was 0.56 ± 0.2 and 0.6 ± 0.13 mm, respectively.
  • The blood velocity in the vein ranged from 8.4 to 13.5 cm/sec, the blood follow rate was between 0.33 to 1.78 ml/min, and the congestion index from 0.06 to 0.27 cm⋅sec.
  • The vein showed laminar monophasic waveforms across all donkeys, indicating typical, healthy blood flow patterns.
  • The study found no significant impact of the examination side or gender on the ultrasound measurements of the vein.
  • However, donkeys with a body condition score (BCS) of 3 or more revealed increased vein depth.

Conclusion

  • The reference values resulting from this study can assist veterinarians in evaluating the health of a donkey’s external jugular vein, offering comparative measurements for determining if a deviation from normal blood flow is present.
  • This research provides a foundation for further diagnostic studies in identifying diseases and conditions that may affect the blood flow in the external jugular vein in donkeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Hussein HA, Ibrahim A. (2022). B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography of normal external jugular vein in donkeys (Equus asinus). BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 345. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03441-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 345
PII: 345

Researcher Affiliations

Hussein, Hussein Awad
  • Internal Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt. hhussein@aun.edu.eg.
Ibrahim, Ahmed
  • Assistant Consultant of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Equidae
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Jugular Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Ultrasonography / veterinary
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / veterinary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Mahmoud AAE, Elsayed HK, Hussein HA. Ultrasound measurements of croup fat thickness and liver echogenicity as indicators for lipomobilization in donkeys (Equus Africanus asinus) with fasting-induced hyperlipidemia. BMC Vet Res 2025 Sep 9;21(1):534.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04999-zpubmed: 40926229google scholar: lookup
  2. Barbagianni MS, Georgiou SG, Gouletsou PG, Galatos AD, Valasi I, Pappa E, Karatrantos AT, Giannoukas A. Imaging of experimental venous thrombus by means of Doppler and CEUS techniques in dogs. J Ultrasound 2024 Dec;27(4):813-823.
    doi: 10.1007/s40477-024-00935-3pubmed: 39106001google scholar: lookup
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