Ultrasound imaging of the spleen, liver, and kidneys in healthy hair sheep: a pilot study.

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the ultrasonographic appearance of the liver, spleen, and kidneys in 35 healthy Santa Inês breed sheep. The spleen was located caudal to the last rib and extended to the 8th intercostal space (ICS), while the splenic vein was predominantly visible between the 11th and 10th ICS, located between the 12th and 9th ICS. The liver was visualized from the 12th to the 7th ICS, with the portal vein exhibiting a mean diameter of 15.4 ± 2.0 mm, a rounded shape, and echogenic walls. The caudal vena cava appeared in triangular, elliptical, or round shapes, with a mean diameter of 12.13 ± 3.0 mm. The gallbladder (GB) displayed various shapes, with anechoic to hypoechoic content, and wall measurements of 29.2 ± 11.8 mm in length, 237.4 ± 147.7 mm² in area, and 10.3 ± 4.1 mm in height. The kidneys were examined in both the craniodorsal and caudodorsal quadrants, with the right kidney observed at the 12th ICS and the left kidney typically in the right caudodorsal quadrant. The mean kidney volume was 42.8 ± 9.8 cm³ for the right kidney and 44.2 ± 10.6 cm³ for the left kidney, with average cortical and medullary diameters of 0.74 ± 0.1 cm and 0.6 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. The biometric measurements for the ureter, renal pelvis, and hilum were as follows: right kidney (0.13 ± 0.02, 0.16 ± 0.05, 0.7 ± 0.1 mm) and left kidney (0.14 ± 0.02, 0.15 ± 0.05, 0.6 ± 0.1 mm). These findings provide valuable reference values for ultrasonographic examination of abdominal organs in Santa Inês sheep, which may assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of pathologies in these animals. The methodology used showed a complete scan of the liver, spleen and kidney and proved to be a reliable technique for application in clinical routine as it allows the evaluation of the extent of the entire organ, avoiding incomplete or mistaken diagnoses.