Feasibility of Baseline cardIac investiGation in awake elepHants (Elephas mAximus) using tRansThoracic echocardiography: The BIG HEART study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases are common in elephants, but most cases are diagnosed only postmortem. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is widely used in domestic and captive animals, although its application in elephants has not yet been established. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of performing TTE in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), to develop a standardized procedure to optimize image quality, and to assess measurement variability.

Materials and methods

Preliminary trials were conducted in ten elephants, including seven free-ranging animals in Cambodia and three captive elephants in France. These led to a standardized TTE protocol based on cooperative training and positive reinforcement. Key refinements included the exclusive use o

SUBMITTER: Boutibou A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12863514 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature