Normal Echocardiographic Findings in Four Month Old Male Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Summary Echocardiography in birds is a useful and competent technique for morphological and functional cardiac assessment. The aim of this study was to establish normal reference echocardiographic values for ostrich. Echocardiographic parameters from 25 apparently healthy male and almost 4 month old ostrich were chosen for this experiment. Echocardiography was prepared from the second and third intercostals space and over the sternum. The mean and standard deviation was calculated for each parameter. The values obtained are: The left ventricular internal diameter at end systole and end diastole was 1.50±0.2 and 2.70±0.16 cm; left ventricular free wall at end systole and end diastole was 0.89±0.04 and 0.62±0.03 cm; inter ventricular septum at end systole and end diastole was 0.99±0.81 and 0.65±0.11 cm, respectively. The stroke volume was 20.98±2.56 cm 3 and fractional shortening was 44.41±0.53%. Normal echocardiographic values in the healthy birds may be used as early diagnostic and prognostic values in ostriches with cardiac diseases.