Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40420089›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2025

Transcutaneous ultrasonography for visualization of the kidneys in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus): a quantitative assessment of echogenicity and echotexture in comparison with the liver and spleen.

Pratthana Inthawong, Somkiat Huaijantug, Tithipong Plangsangmas, Kakanang Piyarungsri, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Warangkhana Langkaphin, Worapong Kosaruk, Choenkwan Pabutta, Supatta Kijpraiboon, Mark A Mitchell and 2 more

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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Article in BMC veterinary research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Pratthana InthawongCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Canal Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand.
Somkiat HuaijantugDepartment of Clinical Science and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
Tithipong PlangsangmasDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
Kakanang PiyarungsriFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Canal Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand.
Taweepoke AngkawanishThe Thai Elephant Conservation Center, National Elephant Institute of Thailand, The Forest Industry Organization, Lampang, 52190, Thailand.
Warangkhana LangkaphinThe Thai Elephant Conservation Center, National Elephant Institute of Thailand, The Forest Industry Organization, Lampang, 52190, Thailand.
Worapong KosarukCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Canal Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand.
Choenkwan PabuttaThe Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
Supatta KijpraiboonDepartment of Clinical Science and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand.
Mark A MitchellDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
Podjana WattananitDepartment of Clinical Science and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand. podjana.wat@mahidol.ac.th.
Chatchote ThitaramCenter of Elephant and Wildlife Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Canal Road, Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand. chatchote.thitaram@cmu.ac.th.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKidney transcutaneous ultrasonography can be used to assess renal condition and is less invasive than transrectal ultrasonography, which typically requires intensive restraint, sedation, or general anesthesia. To date, this less invasive technique has not been evaluated in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The gray level histogram technique associated with transcutaneous ultrasonography is a quantitative approach to objectively measure echogenicity and echotexture. This study utilized gray-level histograms (GLH) to assess echogenicity and echotexture of the kidneys, spleen, and liver of 49 captive Asian elephants via transcutaneous ultrasonography, to obtain a baseline for healthy animals and to compare various internal organs as a reference for quantitative analyses.

resultsRetroperitoneal fat was the most hyperechoic region identified, followed by the spleen. The renal medullas and the left cortex were the three most homogenous tissues. No significant differences were found between the sexes or age groups.

conclusionsThis study found that transcutaneous ultrasonography could be used to quantitatively measure echogenicity and echotexture in captive Asian elephants using the GLH technique. Baseline GLH references were developed for healthy captive Asian elephants for renal, hepatic and splenic transcutaneous ultrasonography.

Indexed as

ElephantsKidneyLiverSpleenAnimalsAnimals, ZooFemaleMaleUltrasonographyAsian elephantGray-level histogramKidneyTranscutaneous ultrasound

Identifiers

PMID40420089
PMCPMC12105378

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