Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)

Echocardiographic values can vary between dog breeds, making breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) preferable. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) is an advanced imaging technique that enables the measurement of myocardial deformation parameters, contributing to the assess...

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Main Authors: Dinand Favier, Celine Brugada-Terradellas, Johannes Vernooij, Alma Hulsman, Giorgia Santarelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1524
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author Dinand Favier
Celine Brugada-Terradellas
Johannes Vernooij
Alma Hulsman
Giorgia Santarelli
author_facet Dinand Favier
Celine Brugada-Terradellas
Johannes Vernooij
Alma Hulsman
Giorgia Santarelli
author_sort Dinand Favier
collection DOAJ
description Echocardiographic values can vary between dog breeds, making breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) preferable. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) is an advanced imaging technique that enables the measurement of myocardial deformation parameters, contributing to the assessment of systolic function. The objective was to determine breed-specific RIs for 2-D, M-mode, and Doppler-derived echocardiographic parameters for Dutch Sheepdogs, and to obtain 2-D STE-derived strain and strain rate values in this breed. Apparently healthy, purebred Dutch Sheepdogs (1–7 years) were recruited. Each dog underwent a physical examination and transthoracic echocardiography. Conventional 2-D, M-mode, and Doppler measurements were obtained; strain analysis was performed with 2-D STE software. RIs were established for conventional echocardiographic parameters; clinically relevant parameters were compared with commonly used RIs. The effects of gender, age, body weight (BW) and heart rate were tested. Sixty dogs were included. Panting and/or tachycardia were observed in 24 dogs, which affected the quality of the analysis to varying degrees (e.g., out-of-sector movement, lung artefacts). The selected parameters for left ventricular (LV) and atrial dimension showed good agreement with published RIs. BW was an independent variable influencing LV dimensions. This study provides RIs for conventional echocardiographic measurements and reports 2-D STE-derived strain and strain rate values obtained in Dutch Sheepdogs. The selected parameters of LV and left atrial dimension showed good agreement with commonly used RIs. Anxious behavior could represent a breed peculiarity to take into account when performing echocardiography, as it can affect image quality.
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spelling doaj-art-a9631b7b33584e1db66ca252d7fca03c2025-08-20T02:23:43ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011511152410.3390/ani15111524Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)Dinand Favier0Celine Brugada-Terradellas1Johannes Vernooij2Alma Hulsman3Giorgia Santarelli4Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 8, 3584 CS Utrecht, The NetherlandsEchocardiographic values can vary between dog breeds, making breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) preferable. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2-D STE) is an advanced imaging technique that enables the measurement of myocardial deformation parameters, contributing to the assessment of systolic function. The objective was to determine breed-specific RIs for 2-D, M-mode, and Doppler-derived echocardiographic parameters for Dutch Sheepdogs, and to obtain 2-D STE-derived strain and strain rate values in this breed. Apparently healthy, purebred Dutch Sheepdogs (1–7 years) were recruited. Each dog underwent a physical examination and transthoracic echocardiography. Conventional 2-D, M-mode, and Doppler measurements were obtained; strain analysis was performed with 2-D STE software. RIs were established for conventional echocardiographic parameters; clinically relevant parameters were compared with commonly used RIs. The effects of gender, age, body weight (BW) and heart rate were tested. Sixty dogs were included. Panting and/or tachycardia were observed in 24 dogs, which affected the quality of the analysis to varying degrees (e.g., out-of-sector movement, lung artefacts). The selected parameters for left ventricular (LV) and atrial dimension showed good agreement with published RIs. BW was an independent variable influencing LV dimensions. This study provides RIs for conventional echocardiographic measurements and reports 2-D STE-derived strain and strain rate values obtained in Dutch Sheepdogs. The selected parameters of LV and left atrial dimension showed good agreement with commonly used RIs. Anxious behavior could represent a breed peculiarity to take into account when performing echocardiography, as it can affect image quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1524breed-specificM-modeB-modeDopplerTDIspeckle tracking echocardiography
spellingShingle Dinand Favier
Celine Brugada-Terradellas
Johannes Vernooij
Alma Hulsman
Giorgia Santarelli
Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)
Animals
breed-specific
M-mode
B-mode
Doppler
TDI
speckle tracking echocardiography
title Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)
title_full Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)
title_fullStr Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)
title_full_unstemmed Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)
title_short Reference Intervals for Conventional Transthoracic Echocardiography and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography-Derived Strain Values in the Dutch Sheepdog (‘Schapendoes’)
title_sort reference intervals for conventional transthoracic echocardiography and two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography derived strain values in the dutch sheepdog schapendoes
topic breed-specific
M-mode
B-mode
Doppler
TDI
speckle tracking echocardiography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/11/1524
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