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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14520

Changes in measurable ultrasonographic parameters in growing Arabian foals from birth to 1 year.

Abstract: Utrasonographic measurements of the abdominal viscera and the heart in growing Arabian foals have not been described. Objective: To establish normal intervals for ultrasonographic measurements of cardiac indices and abdominal viscera in growing Arabian foals from birth to 1 year of age. Methods: Prospective longitudinal descriptive study. Methods: Ultrasonographic images were captured from 15 foals every 3 months from 1 week to 1 year of age. During each examination, at least three images were obtained at each location and measurements were obtained using standardised ultrasonographic approaches. Reference intervals were established for 11 indices of abdominal viscera (left and right kidney length, width and cortical thickness; left and right caudal aorta diameter, caecal wall thickness and vasculature diameter; and stomach wall thickness) and 11 cardiac indices (pulmonary artery diameter at end-diastole, aortic diameter at end-diastole, left atrial diameter at end-diastole, right ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole, interventricular septal thickness at end-diastole, interventricular septal thickness at peak-systole, left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole, left ventricular internal diameter at peak-systole, left ventricular free wall thickness at end-diastole, left ventricular free wall thickness at peak-systole and fractional shortening). Results: All abdominal structures grew in size from the first week of life up to 1 year of age. All cardiac variables, except for interventricular septal thickness at end-diastole and fractional shortening, increased with age up to 1 year. No sex differences were detected. Conclusions: Small sample size. Conclusions: This study provides age-appropriate reference intervals for several ultrasonographically visible structures in Arabian foals up to 1 year of age. This information is essential for clinical management and decision-making in this sub-population of equine patients. Unassigned: Es liegen keine Daten zu ultraschallgestützten Messungen der abdominellen Eingeweide und des Herzens bei heranwachsenden Araber‐Fohlen vor. Unassigned: Etablierung von Normwerten für ultraschallgestützte Messungen kardialer Parameter und abdomineller Eingeweide bei heranwachsenden Araber‐Fohlen vom Zeitpunkt der Geburt bis zum Alter von einem Jahr. Methods: Prospektive, longitudinale, deskriptive studie. Methods: Von 15 Fohlen wurden alle drei Monate vom Alter von einer Woche bis zu einem Jahr Ultraschallbilder aufgenommen. Bei jeder Untersuchung wurden für jede Region mindestens drei Bilder mittels standardisierter Ultraschallverfahren angefertigt und vermessen. Referenzbereiche wurden für 11 Parameter der abdominellen Eingeweide (Länge, Breite und Kortikaldicke der linken und rechten Niere; Durchmesser der linken und rechten kaudalen Aorta; Dicke der Zäkumswand, Gefäßdurchmesser und Dicke der Magenwand) sowie für 11 kardiale Parameter (Durchmesser der Pulmonalarterie am Ende der Diastole, Aortendurchmesser am Ende der Diastole, Durchmesser des linken Vorhofs am Ende der Diastole, innerer Durchmesser des rechten Ventrikels am Ende der Diastole, Dicke des interventrikulären Septums am Ende der Diastole und in der Spitzensystole, innerer Durchmesser des linken Ventrikels am Ende der Diastole und in der Spitzensystole, Wanddicke des linken Ventrikels am Ende der Diastole und in der Spitzensystole sowie Fractional Shortening) ermittelt. Results: Alle abdominellen Strukturen zeigten ein Größenwachstum von der ersten Lebenswoche bis zum Alter von einem Jahr. Alle kardialen Parameter – mit Ausnahme der Dicke des interventrikulären Septums am Ende der Diastole und des Fractional Shortening – nahmen mit dem Alter zu. Es wurden keine Geschlechtsunterschiede festgestellt. WICHTIGSTE EINSCHRÄNKUNGEN: Stichprobengröße. Unassigned: Diese Studie liefert altersentsprechende Referenzbereiche für mehrere sonographisch darstellbare Strukturen bei gesunden Araber‐Fohlen bis zum Alter von einem Jahr. Diese Informationen sind entscheidend für eine korrekte klinische Beurteilung und Entscheidungsfindung.
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Publication Date: 2025-05-06 PubMed ID: 40326455DOI: 10.1111/evj.14520Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigated ultrasonographic measurements of the heart and abdominal viscera in Arabian foals from birth to a year old. The study aims to establish normal intervals for these measurements, offering crucial information for clinical decision-making and management of young Arabian horses.

Methods and Objectives

  • The aim of the study was to create normative values for ultrasonographic measurements of the heart and abdominal viscera in Arabian foals from birth to one year of age.
  • The research was a prospective longitudinal descriptive study, where 15 foals were observed and their ultrasonographic images taken every three months from a week old to a year old.
  • In every examination, at least three images were taken for each location using standardized ultrasonographic approaches.
  • The study sought to establish reference intervals for 22 parameters comprising 11 abdominal viscera parameters and 11 cardiac parameters, for instance, the length, width, and cortical thickness of left and right kidneys, the thickness of the caecal wall and the stomach wall, and multiple measurements related to cardiac dimensions at different points in the cardiac cycle.

Results

  • The results showed that all abdominal structures grew in size as the foals aged. A similar trend was noticed in all but two cardiac variables (interventricular septal thickness at end-diastole and fractional shortening), which did not show significant changes with age.
  • The sample size was small, and no gender differences in measurements were detected.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Based on the findings, the research established age-appropriate reference intervals for several ultrasonographically visible structures in Arabian foals up to one year old.
  • Though the sample size was small, this study provides significant information necessary for clinical management and decision-making in young Arabian horses by veterinary professionals.

Cite This Article

APA
Fernandes T, Uberti B, Robin M. (2025). Changes in measurable ultrasonographic parameters in growing Arabian foals from birth to 1 year. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14520

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Fernandes, Tiago
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center - Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Uberti, Benjamin
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center - Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Robin, Matthew
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center - Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.

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