Doppler echocardiographic reference values in healthy goats (Capra hircus)

The present study was conducted on 12 apparently healthy goats, free from cardiothoracic diseases. The animals were divided in 2 groups; group I included 3-6 months old animals weighing 5-15 kg, and group-II included animals of 6-12 months of age weighing 15-30 kg. Mean±SE values of body weight and age were 11.83±0.70 kg, 3.75±0.31 month and 25.67±1.73 kg, 8.58±0.95 month in groups I and II, respectively. On Doppler echocardiography, most of the parameters were found to be non-significantly different between groups I and II, except for mitral velocity of A peak (MV_A). Significant positive correlations with age were observed in pulse wave Doppler echocardiographic measurements of tricuspid E peak and tricuspid E/A ratio. Positive correlations with age and body weight were also observed in measurements of peak mitral velocity (E peak, A peak) and aortic velocity (with age M_E/A and tricuspid A peak; and with body weight tricuspid E peak and T_E/A). Other parameters showed negative correlation with age and body weight of animals. The echocardiographic values obtained in the study can be helpful in disease diagnosis and for utilizing the goats as a model for human cardiac disorders.