The analysis of indicators of the echocardiography of cows in the dry period

Abstract

Echocardiography allows us to conduct a real-time study of the functional state of cardiac walls, to assess the size of its chambers and structures, as well as to identify deviations at the early stages of pathology. The study was conducted in SPK “Gridino”, Kostroma, on 2 highly productive groups of Kostroma cows (>8000 kg of milk per lactation) during the dry period, 30 days before calving (n = 15): the first group consisted of clinically healthy cows, the second of cows with symptoms of myocardiodystrophy. To receive echocardiograms data we used ultrasound veterinary diagnostic apparatus Acu-Vista VT98C with a 3.5 MHz convex sensor. The access points were prepared in accordance with the anatomy of the heart. The skin of the cows was treated by conventional methods. To ensure close contact of the sensor with the skin of the cows we used an ultrasound Mediagel. The study was performed in B-mode on the left side it was conducted along the long axis of the left ventricle, along the short axis of the left ventricle and at the level of the aortic valve and of the mitral valve; on the right side in the apical four-chamber projection and along the long axis of the left ventricle. The following markers were measured: LVd, RVd, LVs, RVs, IVSd, LVWd, LVWs, LA, AO, also FS%, EF Lvd data were calculated. The results of the reserch were statistically processed using MS Office Excel. Small deviations of the EchoCG indices were noted among clinically healthy cows, which might be due to the prolonged stressful function of the cardiovascular system in dry cows during the later stages of gestation. The analysis of EchoCG of the cows with myocardiodystrophy symptom revealed significant structural changes which indicate the dilatation of the heart chambers and decrease of the interventricular septum thickness and hypertrophy of the posterior wall of the left ventricle.