VARIATIONS IN RENAL DOPPLER ULTRASOUND IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY AREWA AND TALON HORSES WITHIN ZURU EMIRATE STABLE, ZURU, KEBBI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Renal Doppler ultrasonography encompasses the measurement of the renal resistive index (RRI) and pulsatility index (PI). The examination is a systematic sonographic evaluation of the kidneys and it is a non-invasive procedure that is used to assess, investigate, monitor and diagnose the renal conditions of animals. These renal indices do not exist for the Arewa and Talon breeds of Nigerian horses which are probably the most common breeds in northern Nigeria. Thus, this study aims to gain a clearer understanding of RRI and PI variations in these breeds and interplay of some physiological parameters such as withers height, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), age (young and adult) and to establish equine renal reference data of RRI and PI in these breeds by means of non-invasive pain free imaging modality (Power Doppler Ultrasound). Thirty-two healthy, conscious, non-racing horses were recruited. The overall median RRI and PI values for the right kidney were 0.60 ± 0.006 and 0.75 ± 0.13, while those for the left kidney were 0.59 ± 0.006 and 0.77 ± 0.18, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the right and the left kidney of either breed, nor among the physiological variables and biochemical analyses studied. Furthermore, no predispositions to RRI or PI variation have been found by us that could be attributed to breed, body weight, body condition score or withers height. There was no difference in renal values between young (≤4 years) and adult (≥4.5 years) horses. These results recorded can be used as a reference for several prospective studies comparing healthy and diseased individuals and also to study the influence of other conditions (pregnancy, lactation) aimed at assisting clinicians in making inferential diagnostic and prognostic decisions of renal conditions in horses. Keywords: Renal indices, Doppler, Arewa horse, Talon horse, Zuru