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Animals
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Advances in Diagnostic Imaging in Small Animal Cardiology
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Advances in Diagnostic Imaging in Small Animal Cardiology

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Clinical Studies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2598

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lina Hamabe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Clinical Oncology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan
Interests: cardiology; cardiomyopathy; echocardiography; small animal; surgery; veterinary medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kazumi Shimada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: cardiology; cardiovascular surgery; artificial biomaterials; cardiac repairing sheet
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements in diagnostic imaging techniques that are transforming the field of small animal cardiology. As cardiovascular diseases in small animals remain a leading concern, early diagnosis and timely intervention are crucial. This issue explores cutting-edge imaging modalities such as echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and novel techniques that offer enhanced precision in assessing cardiac structures and functions.

Articles in this issue cover a range of topics, including the development and validation of new imaging protocols, the application of advanced techniques for early detection of cardiac diseases, and the integration of AI and machine learning to improve diagnostic accuracy. This Special Issue also highlights clinical case studies, reviews, and original research that demonstrate how these imaging innovations are improving outcomes in small animal patients.

By bringing together contributions from leading researchers and clinicians, this issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in diagnostic imaging, offering valuable insights for veterinary cardiologists and practitioners dedicated to advancing the care of small animal patients with cardiovascular conditions.

Dr. Lina Hamabe
Dr. Kazumi Shimada
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • advanced techniques
  • cardiac imaging
  • cardiology
  • cardiovascular disease
  • diagnostic imaging
  • small animal cardiology

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 2778 KiB  
Article
Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Dogs: Evaluating Imaging Parameters and Methodological Variability in Global Longitudinal Strain Assessment
by Jonas E. Mogensen, Maiken B. T. Bach, Pernille G. Bay, Tuğba Varlik, Jakob L. Willesen, Caroline H. Gleerup and Jørgen Koch
Animals 2025, 15(11), 1523; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15111523 - 23 May 2025
Abstract
Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is an advanced imaging technique that offers quantitative insights into myocardial function by analyzing the motion of speckles created during ultrasound–tissue interactions. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of 2D-STE by examining the impact of key technical parameters [...] Read more.
Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) is an advanced imaging technique that offers quantitative insights into myocardial function by analyzing the motion of speckles created during ultrasound–tissue interactions. This study aims to evaluate the reliability of 2D-STE by examining the impact of key technical parameters on global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement accuracy and comparing two speckle-tracking analysis methods provided by GE Healthcare: quantitative analysis of the 2D strain (2D strain) and automated function imaging (AFI). The prospective study consisted of two cohorts. In the first cohort, including 16 healthy dogs, the influence of frame rate, heart rate variation, zoom, transducer frequency, and image foreshortening on speckle-tracking values was assessed. In the second cohort, which included 10 healthy dogs, 2D-STE parameters were obtained with the 2D strain and AFI to assess agreement between the methods and observer variability. Our findings indicate that foreshortening (p < 0.01, Cohen’s d: 0.52, CI: −17.81 to −24.83) and heart rate variability (p = 0.02, Cohen’s d: 0.72, CI: −18.07 to −26.23) significantly affect speckle-tracking measurements. While zoom, frame rate, and frequency did not show a significant impact. Additionally, while the 2D strain and AFI exhibited a strong correlation, a significant systematic bias was identified, with AFI underestimating strain values compared to the 2D strain. Intra- and inter-observer coefficients of variation (CV) were below 9% for both methods, supporting their reliability. These findings emphasize the need to optimize image acquisition and selection criteria, which enhances the accuracy and reliability of the speckle-tracking analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging in Small Animal Cardiology)
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13 pages, 1184 KiB  
Article
Differences in the Impact of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction on Intraventricular Pressure Gradient in Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
by Miki Hirose, Momoko Watanabe, Aki Takeuchi, Aimi Yokoi, Kazuyuki Terai, Katsuhiro Matsuura, Ken Takahashi and Ryou Tanaka
Animals 2024, 14(22), 3320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14223320 - 19 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1285
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common form of cardiomyopathy in cats, and heart failure occurs as diastolic dysfunction progresses. HCM in cats is broadly classified as non-obstructive and obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, depending on the presence or absence of outflow tract obstruction. Measurement of [...] Read more.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common form of cardiomyopathy in cats, and heart failure occurs as diastolic dysfunction progresses. HCM in cats is broadly classified as non-obstructive and obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, depending on the presence or absence of outflow tract obstruction. Measurement of the intraventricular pressure differences (IVPD) using color M-mode (CMM) has attracted attention as a reliable diastolic index as it correlates with catheterization, the gold standard for the assessment of diastolic performance. Because IVPD is affected by the size of the heart, the intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG) index, which is unaffected by heart size, is by calculated by dividing IVPD by LV length. In the present study, CMM IVPG was used to non-invasively assess diastolic impairment in cats with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This study was conducted on 10 control cats and 18 cats in the HCM group. Although no severe left atrial enlargement was observed in the HCM group, the basal IVPG was significantly increased in the HOCM group compared to the control group. Although IVPD typically suggests impaired diastolic function and reduced ventricular compliance, the significant increase observed in the HOCM group compared to controls may suggest an indirect elevation in left atrial pressure, likely secondary to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The increase in IVPG in HOCM, as shown in this study, is a pathological effect of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction that cannot be detected by conventional echocardiographic indices, and evaluating IVPG is useful to evaluate cardiac function from a perspective that differs from conventional methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging in Small Animal Cardiology)
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Other

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10 pages, 6757 KiB  
Case Report
Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect Concurrent with an Aorto-Right Ventricular Fistula Caused by a Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva in Three Dogs
by Juyeong Kim, Won-Jong Lee, Youngwon Lee, Hojung Choi and Dae-Hyun Kim
Animals 2025, 15(7), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070944 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 276
Abstract
An aorto-right ventricular fistula, a rare condition in humans, is characterized by communication between the ascending aorta and the right ventricle through a defect in the aortic wall. This report describes three cases of dogs with continuous murmurs: a 6-month-old Coton de Tulear, [...] Read more.
An aorto-right ventricular fistula, a rare condition in humans, is characterized by communication between the ascending aorta and the right ventricle through a defect in the aortic wall. This report describes three cases of dogs with continuous murmurs: a 6-month-old Coton de Tulear, a 5-year-old Maltese, and a 6-month-old Jindo. Notably, all of the dogs presented with no severe clinical signs. Echocardiography revealed a turbulent jet through restrictive perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSD) during systole and aorto-right ventricular fistulas secondary to ruptured sinuses of Valsalva aneurysm during diastole. In one case, a surgical closure of the VSD simultaneously resolved the aorto-right ventricular fistula. Follow-up echocardiography in the other two cases revealed mild left heart volume overload and a slight increase in the pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio. However, the dogs remained asymptomatic. In conclusion, aorto-right ventricular fistulas with VSDs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of continuous murmurs in dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Diagnostic Imaging in Small Animal Cardiology)
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