Specific features of echocardiographic examination in ophidians

Echocardiography in ophidians shows several particularities, directly due to the anatomical features of their cardiovascular system: two aortic arches (instead of one in mammals), one single ventricle (instead of two), two cranial venae cavae (instead of one), and also one supplementary tubular cavity called sinus venosus, which proceeds into the right atrium at the sino-atrial opening. Ultrasound examination using a ventral and an intercostal approach allows a good visualisation of these cardiac structures in short and long axis. The main purpose of this technique is to establish the ante-mortem diagnosis of heart diseases, such as endocarditis and myocarditis.