Echocardiography parameters of clinically normal adult captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

• Autores: Meg M. Sleeper
• Localización: JAVMA: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, ISSN-e 0003-1488, Vol. 244, Nº. 8, 2014, págs. 956-960
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objective—To generate reference ranges for echocardiographic variables in clinically normal adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

    Design—Retrospective cohort study.

    Animals—88 clinically normal adult chimpanzees.

    Procedures—Echocardiographic data obtained between 2002 and 2011 from chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility were reviewed (263 echocardiograms obtained from 158 individuals). Data from clinically normal individuals (33 females and 55 males) were analyzed. Basic cardiac parameters measured in all individuals included aortic root diameter and left atrial diameter in the short and long axis during diastole. Left ventricular measurements included left ventricular internal diameter in systole and diastole and diastolic septal and posterior wall thickness. The E point to septal separation was also measured. Spectral Doppler measurements included the peak flow velocity of the pulmonary artery and aorta and diastolic transmitral flow. The presence of arrhythmias was also noted.

    Results—Standard echocardiographic findings for a large group of adult female and male chimpanzees were obtained. Female and male chimpanzees were grouped by age in 10-year blocks, and echocardiographic findings were analyzed statistically by 10-year block. In male chimpanzees, cardiac arrhythmias were noted to increase with age.

    Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and death in captive chimpanzees; however, basic echocardiographic measurements from a large cohort of clinically normal animals have not previously been reported. The number of animals in the present study was insufficient to generate reference ranges; however, data from a large cohort of clinically normal animals are presented. This information will be useful for veterinarians working in clinical and research settings with this species.

    Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of morbidity and death in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). A surveya of the chimpanzee colony at Alamogordo Primate Facility from 1990 to 2000 cited in a case report1 lists cardiovascular disease as the cause of death in most animals. Reported cardiovascular diagnoses in chimpanzees include congenital2,3 as well as acquired diseases, including myocardial fibrosis,4–7 dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure,1 pulmonary hypertension,8 sudden cardiac death,5 and various cardiac arrhythmias.9 Little is known regarding the specific etiologies and progression of cardiovascular disease in chimpanzees. As in other species, it is likely as varied as the forms of disease they develop. However, myocardial fibrosis appears to be a common cause of death in the male chimpanzee population. Various biomarkers have been evaluated to screen subclinically affected animals.10,11 Even though a blood-based screening test could be exceedingly helpful in identifying animals at risk, echocardiography remains the gold standard for identifying cardiac structural changes.1,9,12 Understanding normal and abnormal echocardiographic findings is essential for early detection and treatment of cardiac disease in this species.

    Echocardiography is the most commonly used noninvasive diagnostic tool in veterinary and human cardiology, allowing assessment of chamber size, valvular anatomy, and myocardial function. However, echocardiography has not been performed routinely in chimpanzees, and there is only 1 report1 of echocardiographic data obtained from 20 clinically normal adult chimpanzees. Results of cardiac measurements were proportionally similar to those for human beings and those from assessment of 5 adult male gorillas.13 Trivial valvular regurgitation was apparent in some (n = 3) of the chimpanzees deemed clinically normal in the prior report1; however, none of them had auscultable murmurs on physical examination. A study including a larger number of clinically normal individuals would be beneficial. Unfortunately, the most common form of cardiac disease in chimpanzees, myocardial fibrosis,4–7 can occur without obvious echocardiographic changes. The purpose of the study reported here was to generate normal echocardiographic reference ranges for adult chimpanzees.