Reference Values and Repeatability of Transabdominal Ultrasonographic Gastrointestinal Tract Thickness and Motility in Healthy Donkeys (Equus asinus).
Abstract: The present study aimed to provide reference ranges for the wall thickness and motility pattern of the gastrointestinal tract from a sample of donkeys (Equus asinus) population using B-mode ultrasonography. In the present study, 30 clinically healthy donkeys (Equus asinus) (15 males and 15 females), aged 2-20 year old and weighed 100-280 kg were randomly selected for B-mode ultrasonographic scanning of the abdomen. The wall thickness of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, left colon, right colon, and cecum was assessed. Moreover, the motility pattern of the duodenum, jejunum, left colon, right colon, and cecum was evaluated over a period of 3 minutes. Abdominal ultrasonographic scanning of the gastrointestinal tract of healthy donkeys explored that the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, left colon, right colon, and cecum could be visualized easily. The wall thickness of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, left colon, right colon, and cecum was 7.0 ± 0.9 mm, 3.3 ± 1.0 mm, 5.4 ± 0.6 mm, 5.1 ± 0.5 mm, 5.4 ± 0.5 mm, and 5.4 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. The thickest part of the gastrointestinal tract is the stomach, whereas the thinnest part is the duodenum. The motility pattern of the duodenum, jejunum, left colon, right colon, and cecum was 7.7 ± 1.3 contractions/3 minutes, 6.9 ± 1.1 contractions/3 minutes, 4.1 ± 1.2 contractions/3 minutes, 5.5 ± 1.3 contractions/3 minutes, and 4.0 ± 0.8 contractions/3 minutes, respectively. Both the duodenum and jejunum contractions were significantly higher than that of the left colon, right colon, and cecum. This is the first study reporting the reference values for both the wall thickness and motility pattern of the gastrointestinal tract in healthy donkeys (Equus asinus) in Egypt. Good knowledge of these standard and reference values of the wall thickness and motility pattern of gastrointestinal tract structures represents a step in the early diagnosis of the gastrointestinal disorders, including colic in such animal species.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-06-06 PubMed ID: 32797781DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103153Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research aims to set reference values for the wall thickness and movement of the digestive system in healthy donkeys using an ultrasound scanning technique called B-mode ultrasonography.
Sample Population
- The study included 30 clinically healthy donkeys (15 males and 15 females) aged between 2 and 20 years that weighed between 100 and 280 kg.
- These donkeys were chosen randomly for the abdominal ultrasonic scan.
Methodology and Measurements
- B-mode ultrasonography was used to capture images of the donkey’s abdomen.
- The scans focused on the stomach, duodenum (first part of the small intestine), jejunum (middle part of the small intestine), left colon, right colon, and cecum (a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines).
- The wall thickness of these digestive organs was measured.
- The movements (motility) of the duodenum, jejunum, left colon, right colon, and cecum were also recorded over a 3-minute period.
Results
- All the chosen digestive organs were successfully visualized.
- The thickest part found was the stomach with a thickness of about 7mm, and the thinnest part was the duodenum with a thickness of approximately 3.3mm.
- The study found that the duodenum and jejunum made more contractions (about 7.7 and 6.9 per 3-minute period, respectively) than the left colon, right colon, and cecum.
Significance of the Study
- This is the first study in Egypt to report reference values for the thickness and motility pattern for these parts of a healthy donkey’s digestive system.
- These results offer crucial insight for early diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders, such as colic, in this animal species.
- By understanding the normal range of thickness and motility, veterinarians can better detect abnormalities and diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Ibrahim HMM, El-Ashker MR.
(2020).
Reference Values and Repeatability of Transabdominal Ultrasonographic Gastrointestinal Tract Thickness and Motility in Healthy Donkeys (Equus asinus).
J Equine Vet Sci, 92, 103153.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103153 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Electronic address: hussam-habosha@mans.edu.eg.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Duodenum
- Egypt
- Equidae
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Tract / diagnostic imaging
- Male
- Reference Values
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- De Santis M, Seganfreddo S, Greco A, Normando S, Benedetti D, Mutinelli F, Contalbrigo L. Donkey Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability: A Scoping Review.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 25;13(3).
- Abass M, Ibrahim H, Salci H, Hamed MA. Evaluation of the effect of different sedative doses of dexmedetomidine on the intestinal motility in clinically healthy donkeys (Equus asinus).. BMC Vet Res 2022 Jul 14;18(1):274.
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