Cardiac Radiographic Measurements in Ferrets Using the OsiriX MD Programme

Abstract

Objectives: To adapt the vertebral heart scale (VHS) for use in ferrets and identify new scales and tools that allow to establish the normal heart size by means of radiography more quickly and effectively.Methods: Forty healthy pet ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) were used in this prospective study. The measurements were made on right lateral, left lateral, ventrodorsal, and dorsoventral projections, using OsiriX MD medical imaging software, to evaluate sex effect and variance within the different heart scales. Cardiac measurements were also correlated to VHS and the cardiac dimension in the same projection.Results: Most of the cardiac measurements were significantly different between males and females. The results for the VHS were: right lateral VHS (RL-VHS): 5.52 ± 0.28 v (vertebrae units); left lateral (LL-VHS): 5.55 ± 0.28 v; and dorsoventral VHS (DV-VHS): 6.22 ± 0.34 v for males and RL-VHS: 5.24 ± 0.2 v; LL-VHS: 5.25 ± 0.20 v; and DV-VHS: 5.97 ± 0.35 v for females. Regarding the sternebral heart scale (SHS), the values were: RL-SHS: 5.10 ± 0.20 s (sternebrae units) and LL-SHS: 5.11 ± 0.20 s for males and RL-SHS: 4.67 ± 0.24 s and LL-SHS: 4.67 ± 0.28 s for females. The new measurements based on determining the cardiac area were also marked by clear sexual dimorphism, as shown for the cardiac area-axis (AREA-AXIS): RL-AREA-AXIS: 3.82 ± 0.45 cm2; LL-AREA-AXIS: 3.87 ± 0.41 cm2; ventrodorsal (VD)-AREA-AXIS: 4.59 ± 0.64 cm2; and DV-AREA-AXIS: 4.80 ± 0.50 cm2 for males and RL-AREA-AXIS: 2.39 ± 0.23 cm2; LL-AREA-AXIS: 2.41 ± 0.26 cm2; VD-AREA-AXIS: 3.08 ± 0.45 cm2; and DV-AREA-AXIS: 3.06 ± 0.47 cm2 for females. The cardiac area open polygon (AREA-POL) values were: RL-AREA-POL: 6.78 ± 0.65 cm2; LL-AREA-POL: 6.88 ± 0.68 cm2; VD-AREA-POL: 7.20 ± 0.91 cm2; and DV-AREA-POL: 7.57 ± 0.88 cm2 for males and RL-AREA-POL: 4.28 ± 0.30 cm2; LL-AREA-POL: 4.35 ± 0.35 cm2; VD-AREA-POL: 4.72 ± 0.65 cm2; and DV-AREA-POL: 4.79 ± 0.66 cm2 for females, with similar differences noted from various radiographic projections. A good correlation was noted between VHS and SHS, and a very strongly positive correlation existed between cardiac area measurements and cardiac dimensions.Conclusion: The VHS adapted to ferrets, the SHS, as well as the cardiac area measurements presented in our study are ideal tools for the assessment of cardiac size in ferrets.

Accuracy of the modified vertebral heart score and the cardio‐vertebral ratio for radiographic evaluation of cardiomegaly in ferrets

“…. 10 They found that RL‐VHS was significantly different between 21 males and 19 females whereas VD‐VHS was not 10 . The influence of weight and sex on heart size indicators normalized for body size remains unclear in ferrets in the light of current literature.…”

“…Gutiérrez et al. concluded similarly between RL‐VHS and LL‐VHS 10 . However, they stipulated that VD‐VHS and DV‐VHS measurements behaved differently and showed perceptible differences that could be valuable.…”

“…. 13–16 All ferrets selected in this study were older than 9 months which was expected to minimize age‐related variations as ferrets had reached their adult size and sexual maturity at that age 10 . .…”

“…8.10 They found that RL-VHS was significantly different between 21 males and 19 females whereas VD-VHS was not. 10 The influence of weight and sex on heart size indicators normalized for body size remains unclear in ferrets in the light of current literature. In this study, analysis of covariance by sex, body weight, and age showed no significant effect of any of these variables on any of the 4 heart size indicators in the 3 groups of ferrets and for the 3 readers.…”

“…More recently, Gutiérrez et al. measured the VHS, a newly defined sternal heart score (SHS), and two new cardiac scales based on determining cardiac areas, in 40 healthy pet ferrets 10 . Based on our review of the literature, none of the abovementioned radiographic cardiac scales has been assessed in ferrets suffering from heart disease.…”