US EPA

7262662 

Journal Article 

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN AFRICAN WHITE-BELLIED PANGOLINS (PHATAGINUS TRICUSPIS) WITHOUT CARDIAC DISEASE 

Tang, KN; Buoscio, D; Langan, J; Adkesson, MJ; Chinnadurai, S; Aitken-Palmer, C; , 

2019 

1 

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
ISSN: 1042-7260 

AMER ASSOC ZOO VETERINARIANS 

YULEE 

50 

3 

604-610 

English 

33517629 

10.1638/2018-0224 

WOS:000487220600010 

Relatively little is known about pangolin care and physiology, and it has become increasingly important to have a better understanding of normal health parameters for evaluation of free-ranging, rehabilitating, and managed populations. Echocardiograms were performed on six African white-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis) under professional care at a single institution. Because of the propensity of pangolins to roll up with only thick keratinized scales exposed, the pangolins were anesthetized with either isoflurane or sevoflurane. All echocardiograms were performed and evaluated by a board-certified cardiologist. None of the pangolins had any evidence of prior cardiac disease. All standard measurements were obtained. Four pangolins (66.7%) had trace to mild mitral regurgitation, six (100%) had trace to mild tricuspid regurgitation, and two (33.3%) had trace to mild pulmonic regurgitation. All examinations were determined to be normal, with no evidence of valvular structural abnormalities, cardiac dysfunction, chamber enlargement, or cardiac hypertrophy. This report broadens understanding of normal echocardiogram parameters in pangolin species and contributes techniques and baseline data for veterinarians caring for these vulnerable populations.