Ultrasonographic features of the liver, kidney, spleen and heart of the Philippine native goat

Ultrasonography is a valuable tool in evaluating disorders of the liver in animals. However, very limited studies have been conducted on the abdominal and thoracic organs of goats. Eight (8) apparently healthy Philippine native goats, four males and four females, 1-3 years old, were used in the study. The liver, kidneys, spleen and heart were examined ultrasonographically using an ultrasound diagnostic equipment equipped with a 3.5 MHZ convex-array transducer. After ultrasonography, the goats were slaughtered and grass and histological examinations of the different organs were conducted. The liver, caudal vena cava, portal vein, and hepatic vein were most effectively examined from the 8th-12th intercostal spaces (ICS), and the gall bladder in the ventral area of the 10th ICS. Normal echogenicity of the liver consisted of numerous weak echoes homogenously distributed on the entire parenchyma. The portal vein and caudal vena cava appeared as structures with anechic lumen and hyperechoic wall; the latter was seen only outside the hepatic parenchyma. The hepatic vein showed an anechoic lumen with a hypoechoic wall. The gall bladder appeared as a fluid-filled sac with anechoic lumen and hyperchoic margin with variable shape. Measurements of the liver obtained ultrasonographically conformed with gross measurements. The right kidney can be viewed on the right plank from the dorsal region of the 11th ICS to the paralumbar fossa at the level of the 2nd lumbar vertebra. Visualization of the left kidney was unsuccessful. The kidney appeared smooth and bean-shaped. The renal cortex and pelvis were seen as hypenc hoic structures. The renal medulla appeared uniformly gray or hypochoic while the medullary pyramids were viewed as hypoechoic circular substances. No significant differences in the mean plus or minus S.D. values of length; width and thickness of the right kidney between ultrasonographic and gross measurements and between males and females were observed. The spleen could be viewed unltrasonographically in the dorsal aspect of the left flank at the region of the 10th-12th ICS. The ultrasonographic features of the spleen include the highly echogenic splenic capsule the honmogenous slightly hyperechoic parenchyma and the anechoic splenic vessels. No differences in the location and ultrasonographic features of the spleen between male and female goats could be observed. No significant differences were observed in the thickness of the spleen as measured grossly and during ultrasonography in both male and female goats. The heart could be viewed from the 2nd-4th ICS in both the left and right sides of the thorax of the animal. The different structures of the heart could be clearly observed, including the left and right atria, left and right ventricles, interventricular and interatrial septa, right and left atrioventricular valves and outflow tracts. M-mode ultrasonograms showed different characteristic patterns in different sites of the heart. No differences on the location of the heart and B-mode and M-mode ultrasonograms were observed between male and female goats. Gross and histological examinations revealed no abnormalities in the different organs of the goats. The results of this study can be used as a reference when evaluating the liver and its associated hepatic structures, kidneys, spleen and heart in Philippine native goats for early non-invasive diagnosis of pathologic conditions.