ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN THIRTY AMERICAN FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER) AND A CASE OF SUSPECTED NEURALLY MEDIATED REFLEX SYNCOPE
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Heart disease in birds contributes to premature death and is usually detected postmortem. Echocardiography is a sensitive and noninvasive diagnostic modality but reported standard values for many species of birds, including American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), are unavailable. Echocardiography was opportunistically performed on 30 unsedated American flamingos during their annual routine health examination. Structural heart disease was not found in any of the examined birds. However, 18 birds showed varying degrees of dynamic intraventricular obstruction. Echocardiographic parameters are reported. Benign neurocardiogenic weakness or syncopal events during handling were suspected in three birds. Stress combined with an intraventricular obstruction is believed to have triggered a cascade of parasympathetic innervation and sympathetic inhibition, similar to neurally mediated reflex syncope in humans.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 195-199 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 1042-7260 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. All rights reserved.
ID: 392707849