Radiographic evaluation of the cardiac silluet using the VHS method (Vertebral Heart Size) in young and adults coatis (Nasua nasua, Linneaus 1766) living in captivity

Abstract

Radiographic examination of the toracic cavity is an usefull noninvasive method for assessment, monitoring the progress of heart disease, suggesting prognosis and guiding the treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac silhouette of young and adults coatis and evaluate its relationship to the number of thoracic vertebrae (VHS), the method proposed by Buchanam and Buchele (1995) for small animals. We evaluated a group of 20 coatis, divided by age: I (GI) and 8 animals aged between 4 and 5 months and group II (GII) with 12 animals over 12 months old. Based in chest radiographs and VD laterolateral right projections for determining the major axis (L) and short axis (Y) being the sum of L and S is the value obtained by ESR, the relative depth/width (D / L) chest were obtained and the results determined the type of conformation of the thorax, which results greater than 1.25 cm denote chest type deep, 0.75 to 1.25 cm chest intermediate and inferior results will 0.75cm wide chest. It was observed that the heart is alocated between the fourth and seventh pair of ribs, VHS average coatis healthy adults was 9.36 ± 0.75 and 8.06 ± 0 youth, 595 units thoracic vertebrae and the predominant conformation found was of intermediate type when compared to dogs. The mean values in this study serve as a basis for interpretation of the VHS type, however, a larger number may be required animals to determine the physiological limits of the cardiac silhouette in coati.