Research Overview:
During human pregnancies, a variety of clinical tests and procedures are conducted to provide information about the developing baby. One such procedure, fetal echocardiography, uses sound waves (ultrasound) to study the structure and function of a baby’s heart before birth. DRC regularly uses ultrasound as a helpful diagnostic tool to monitor our dolphins’ health in other areas. Could fetal echocardiography be adapted to pregnant dolphins and their calves? Dr. Mark Sklansky, the Director of the Fetal Cardiology Program at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, came to DRC to investigate.
Working with several members of DRC staff and our veterinarian, Dr. Sklansky was able to apply his techniques to evaluate the cardiovascular health of four calves prior to birth. Combined with similar work at other facilities, he has concluded that fetal echocardiography can safely and effectively evaluate a calf’s heart. This has the potential to be a valuable clinical tool for monitoring our dolphins’ pregnancies. In addition, further research may help to increase the overall understanding of calf cardiovascular development and the specialized adaptations of marine mammals.
Ultrasound – Dr. Sklansky uses ultrasound to look within a pregnant dolphin, to study the calf’s heart.
