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1 March 2015 RADIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE LIMITS FOR CARDIAC WIDTH OF BUDGERIGARS (MELOPSITTACUS UNDULATUS)
Mozhgan Velayati, Ali Mirshahi, Jamshid Razmyar, Mohammad Azizzadeh
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Primary and secondary cardiovascular diseases are not uncommon in birds. Although radiologic standards for heart width have been developed for mammals, they are still not available for many avian species. The purpose of this study was to establish normal reference values for cardiac size in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), one of the most popular pet bird species all over the world. After clinical and radiographic (lateral and ventrodorsal views) evaluations, 27 adult, clinically healthy budgerigars (10 females and 17 males) were included in this study. High-quality ventrodorsal and lateral radiographic projections were obtained. The cardiac and thoracic width, distance between third and fourth ribs, synsacrum width, coracoid width, and the distance between clavicle bones were measured on ventrodorsal radiographs. The ratio between cardiac width and other mentioned indices was calculated. Correlation of each anatomical index with the cardiac width was evaluated by linear regression model. Sex and weight were included in all models. Mean ± SD of cardiac width was 10.8 ± 0.6 mm, with lower and upper limits of 9.5 and 12.0 mm. The results showed a significant correlation between the cardiac width and the thoracic width (R2 = 0.28; P = 0.005). There were no significant associations between weight, sex, and the heart width. The values and ratios obtained in this study can be used as a reference of normal cardiac size of budgerigar in radiology for detection of cardiomegaly in this bird.

American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Mozhgan Velayati, Ali Mirshahi, Jamshid Razmyar, and Mohammad Azizzadeh "RADIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE LIMITS FOR CARDIAC WIDTH OF BUDGERIGARS (MELOPSITTACUS UNDULATUS)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 46(1), 34-38, (1 March 2015). https://doi.org/10.1638/2013-0225R4.1
Received: 21 September 2013; Published: 1 March 2015
KEYWORDS
Budgerigars
Cardiac
heart
Melopsittacus undulatus
Normal
radiology
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