Epidemiological, clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic findings and outcome in client-owned guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) with cardiac disease: 80 cases (2010-2021).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize epidemiological, clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic features of cardiac diseases in guinea pigs examined at a referral exotics center. ANIMALS: 80 guinea pigs. PROCEDURES: Medical records of guinea pigs that had echocardiography performed between June 2010 and January 2021 were reviewed. RESULTS: The percentage of guinea pig patients with cardiovascular disease was 2.8%. Clinical signs included dyspnea (46/80), lethargy (18/80), and anorexia (10/80). The most common physical examination finding was heart murmur (10/80). Radiographic abnormalities included subjective cardiomegaly (37/67), pleural effusion (21/67), and increased lung opacity (40/67). Median (range) vertebral heart score on right lateral (48/67) and ventrodorsal (39/67) projections was 9.0 vertebrae (6.6 to 13.2 vertebrae) and 10.8 vertebrae (7.9 to 13.2 vertebrae), respectively. The most common echocardiographic diagnosis was cardiomyopathy (30/80), categorized as restrictive (11/30), hypertrophic (10/30), or dilated (9/10). Other cardiac diseases included cor pulmonale (21/80), pericardial effusion (18/80), congenital heart disease (6/80), acquired valvular disease (3/80), and cardiovascular mass (2/80). Congestive heart failure was present in 36 of 80. Median survival time from diagnosis was 2.5 months (95% CI, 1.1 to 6.2 months). Animals that died from heart disease had a significantly shorter survival time than those that died from a noncardiac disease (P = .02). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On radiographs, cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, and alveolar or interstitial lung pattern should be considered as indications for echocardiography in guinea pigs. Cardiomyopathy (restrictive, hypertrophic, or dilated), cor pulmonale, and pericardial effusion were the most common echocardiographic diagnoses. Further studies on diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in guinea pigs are needed.

Echocardiographic findings in a goat with cor pulmonale secondary to chronic parasitic pneumonia.

A four-year old goat was presented for anorexia and apathy since kidding one week earlier. Physical examination revealed dyspnea, extensive ascites and bilateral distended jugular veins, suggestive of congestive right heart failure. The echocardiographic findings of severe right ventricular and atrial dilatation were consistent with right heart failure. In the absence of abnormalities in the right ventricular outflow tract a diagnosis of cor pulmonale secondary to lung disease was posed. Due to a poor prognosis, the goat was euthanized. Necropsy confirmed cor pulmonale and identified severe chronic parasitic pneumonia as underlying cause. Echocardiography is an interesting tool also applicable in the farm for diagnosing heart diseases in goats, and its use should help to avoid unnecessary therapy in cases with a poor prognosis.

Why Use the Mini-FLOTAC to Detect Metastrongyloid Larvae in Dogs and Cats?

PURPOSE: Canine and feline cardiopulmonary disease is an emergent condition in several European countries, particularly in non-endemic regions, although it is often underestimated because of the limitations of the common diagnostic techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of Mini-FLOTAC to detect cardiopulmonary larvae from dogs and cats compared to reference techniques such as Baermann and FLOTAC. METHODS: A total of 20 fresh faecal samples were collected from ten dogs and ten cats naturally infected with Angiostrongylus vasorum, and Aelurostrongylus abstrusus and Troglostrongylus spp., respectively. Three replicates were performed for each technique. FS3 (zinc sulfate, specific gravity = 1.200) was used as flotation solution for Mini-FLOTAC and FLOTAC. The results were expressed as the arithmetic mean of LPG (larvae per gram of faeces). RESULTS: The mean LPG calculated by means of Mini-FLOTAC was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that obtained through the Baermann technique for A. vasorum, A. abstrusus and Troglostrongylus spp., whereas it was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that obtained through the FLOTAC technique only for A. vasorum and A. abstrusus. CONCLUSIONS: Mini-FLOTAC can be considered a valid alternative for the detection of metastrongyloid larvae of dogs and cats, overcoming the limitation of time required by the Baermann test.

Chronic cor pulmonale secondary to pulmonary atherosclerosis in an African Grey parrot.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 20-year-old sexually intact female African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) was evaluated to determine the cause of lethargy, hyporexia, weight loss, and persistent ascites of 21 days' duration. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Physical examination revealed a markedly distended abdomen and systolic heart murmur. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and hepatomegaly. Doppler echocardiography revealed severe eccentric and concentric hypertrophy of the right ventricle with systolic dysfunction, moderate regurgitation through the right atrioventricular valve, a substantial increase in estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, hepatic venous congestion, and coelomic effusion. A clinical diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale was established. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The parrot was initially stabilized by use of coelomocentesis. During the next month, the parrot was treated by administration of furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, benazepril, and pimobendan. The parrot appeared to be responding well to treatment but was found dead in its cage 35 days following initial examination. Postmortem examination revealed substantial atherosclerosis of the large pulmonary arteries, with lesions extending into the medium-size arteries. Pulmonary atherosclerosis was suspected as a cause of the severe pulmonary hypertension. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although atherosclerosis most commonly affects the systemic and coronary arteries of parrots, sclerotic changes within the pulmonary vasculature should be considered as a possible cause of pulmonary hypertension and as a differential diagnosis for right-sided congestive heart failure in psittacine species.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and clinically reversible cor pulmonale in a horse with complicated recurrent airway obstruction.

Cor pulmonale is considered an uncommon complication in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). This case report describes the history, clinical and further examination findings, treatment, progression and outcome of a horse diagnosed with cor pulmonale and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation of 2 days duration due to a severe exacerbation of RAO. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of RAO induced pulmonary hypertension in a horse causing atrial fibrillation. However, even severe cardiac changes due to respiratory dysfunction seem to be largely reversible in horses.

Pulmonary hypertension and cardiac insufficiency in three cows with primary lung disease.

Increased pulmonary arterial pressures as a result of pulmonary disease are described in two cows with chronic pneumonia and one cow with acute pneumonia. Based on clinical signs of congestive right heart failure, increased pulmonary arterial pressure, and right ventricular hypertrophy, cor pulmonale was diagnosed in one cow. Two cows had increased pulmonary arterial pressure and signs of right heart insufficiency, but right ventricular hypertrophy was not identified. Two of the cows had ventral edema and exercise intolerance. All cows had jugular venous distention and increased right atrial and pulmonary arterial pressures. Peripheral arterial PaO2 was decreased in two cows, and not measured in the third cow. Although an uncommon cause of congestive heart failure in cattle at low altitudes, pulmonary hypertension should be considered in cattle with clinical right heart failure.

Observations on ascites in nine cattle.

Signs of ascites were observed in only nine of 1863 cattle examined over a period of five years. The ascites was most commonly associated with either primary or secondary cardiac disease; cattle with ascites have a poor prognosis because the condition is usually assocaited with terminal disease. Two animals had cor pulmonale with chronic pneumonia, three had cardiomyopathy, one had bacterial endocarditis, two had thrombosis of the caudal vena cava and one had diffuse abdominal epithelioid mesothelioma.

Cor pulmonale in an Angus cow.

Cor pulmonale was diagnosed in a 4-year-old beef cow at pasture. Clinical and pathological evidence for the diagnosis included ventral oedema, respiratory distress, chronic interstitial pneumonia and cardiac failure. The cause of the pneumonia was not identified.

Pulmonary embolism and cor pulmonale in a cat.

A 14-year-old male neutered cat experienced pulmonary embolism 15 days following surgical debridement of a recurrent dorsolumbar abscess. Clinical signs were dominated by respiratory distress. Pulmonary embolism was suggested from the lateral thoracic radiograph by the presence of an abruptly attenuated lobar artery and a contiguous oligaemic area in the caudal lung lobe. Pulmonary hypertension was demonstrated on Doppler echocardiography by right pulmonary artery dilation and tricuspid regurgitation raising the pulmonary arterial pressure to 56 mmHg. Chronic pulmonary hypertension, assumed from right ventricular wall hypertrophy, and hypokinesia, indicating chronic cor pulmonale, was suggestive of chronic rather than acute pulmonary embolism. Postmortem histological evidence of pulmonary arteriolar occlusion confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Cardiopulmonary parameters in propofol- or thiopental-anesthetized dogs induced to pulmonary hypertension by serotonin / Parâmetros cardiopulmonares em cães anestesiados com propofol ou tiopental e induzidos à hipertensão pulmonar pela serotonina

The cardiopulmonary changes in propofol- or thiopental-anesthetized dogs induced to pulmonary hypertension (PH) were evaluated. Twenty adult animals were randomly assigned to two groups: propofol group (PG) and thiopental group (TG). In PG, propofol was used for induction (8(0.03mg.kg-1) and anesthesia maintenance (0.8mg.kg-1.minute-1), while, in TG, thiopental was used (22±2.92mg.kg-1; 0.5mg.kg-1.minute-1, respectively). Mechanical ventilation using time cycle was started. PH was induced by administration of serotonin (5HT) (10µg.kg-1 and 1mg.kg-1.hour-1) through a thermodilution catheter positioned in the pulmonary artery. The measurements were performed before administration of 5HT (T0), after 30 minutes (T30), then at 15-minute intervals (T45, T60, T75 and T90). No differences between groups were registered for systolic (sPAP) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI). In PG, sPAP and mPAP increased from T30. While in TG, sPAP and mPAP increased from T75. In PG, heart rate (HR) increased from T30, in which PG was higher than TG. The TPRI values decreased from T30 in PG, and in TG, at T45, T60 and T90. In PG, at T0, PVRI was lower than at other times. In PG, arterial partial pressures of oxygen (PaO2) decreased from T60 and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (PA-aO2) increased at T60. In TG, at T0 PaO2 was higher than at T30, T45, T60 and T90, while PA-aO2 at T0 was lower than at T90. From T30 to T90, TG showed higher PaO2 means and lower arterial partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) values when compared to PG. In PG, from T30, PaCO2 increased, while in TG this parameter was stable. In conclusion, thiopental anesthesia attenuated the cardiopulmonary changes resulting from serotonin-induced PH, probably by attenuation of vasoconstriction and bronchoconstriction.

Avaliaram-se as alterações cardiopulmonares em cães anestesiados com propofol ou tiopental induzidos à hipertensão pulmonar (HP). Vinte animais adultos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: grupo propofol (PG) e grupo tiopental (TG). No PG, o propofol foi usado para indução (8(0,03mg.kg-1) e manutenção da anestesia (0,8mg.kg-1minuto-1), enquanto no TG foi empregado o tiopental (22(2,92mg.kg-1; 0,5mg.kg-1.minute-1, respectivamente). Em seguida, a ventilação mecânica ciclada a tempo foi iniciada. A HP foi induzida pela administração de serotonina (5HT) (10µg.kg-1e 1mg.kg-1.hour-1) por meio de cateter de termodiluição posicionado na artéria pulmonar. As mensurações tiveram início antes da administração da 5HT (T0), depois de 30 minutos (T30), seguida de intervalos de 15 minutos (T45, T60, T75 e T90). Diferenças entre os grupos não foram registradas para pressões sistólica (PAPs) e média (PAPm) da artéria pulmonar, pressão arterial média (PAM), índices da resistência periférica total (IRPT) e da resistência vascular pulmonar (IRVP). A PAPs e a PAPm aumentaram a partir de T30, no PG, e a partir de T75, no TG. No PG, a frequência cardíaca (FC) aumentou a partir de T30, no qual PG foi maior que TG. O IRPT diminuiu no T45, T60 e T90, no TG, e a partir de T30 no PG. No PG, no T0, IRVP foi menor que nos outros momentos. No PG, a pressão parcial de oxigênio no sangue arterial (PaO2) diminuiu a partir de T60, e a diferença de tensão entre o oxigênio alveolar e arterial (PA-aO2) aumentou no T60. No TG, no T0, a PaO2 foi maior que no T30, T45, T60 e T90, enquanto a PA-aO2,, no T0, foi menor que no T90. Entre T30 e T90, TG apresentou maior PaO2 e menor pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono no sangue arterial (PaCO2) quando comparado ao PG. No PG, a partir de T30, a PaCO2 aumentou. A anestesia com tiopental abrandou as mudanças cardiopulmonares resultantes da indução da HP pela serotonina, provavelmente devido à atenuação da vasoconstrição e broncoconstrição.

Spontaneous cor pulmonale in laboratory beagles.

Right heart failure associated with postmortem evidence of pulmonary hypertension (cor pulmonale) was observed in nearly 1% of the young beagles of a large research colony. During the past 18 years, 176 dogs with cor pulmonale were observed. Most cases occurred between September and April of each year. Nearly equal numbers of males and females were involved, and some siblings were affected. Ninety-six percent of known affected dogs died, and 85% of the deaths occurred by 5 weeks of age. Clinically, most dogs were stunted and exhibited ascites, subcutaneous edema, hypothermia, dyspnea, cyanosis, and systolic murmur. Radiography revealed cardiomegaly, and electrocardiography revealed right axis deviation and an enlarged right atrium. Postmortem evidence of cor pulmonale included subcutaneous edema, ascites, hydrothorax, mediastinal and mesenteric edema, splenomegaly, centrolobular hepatic congestion and necrosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, interstitial pneumonia, and medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries and arterioles. The specific cause of the disease was not determined.

Pulmonary vascular disease in a rabbit at high altitude.

A male weanling rabbit of the New Zealand White strain, born and living at an altitude of 3800 m in La Paz, Bolivia, developed right ventricular hypertrophy. This was found to be associated with growth of vascular smooth muscle cells in the intima of pulmonary arterioles, and contrasted with muscularization of the walls of pulmonary arterioles, without extension into the intima, found in a healthy, high-altitude control rabbit of the same strain. A low-altitude control showed no such muscularization. It is concluded that alveolar hypoxia, acting directly or through an intermediate agent, is a growth factor for vascular smooth muscle cells in pulmonary arterioles. This is the first report of pulmonary vascular disease due to high altitude in rabbits.

Radiographic aspects of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the miniature Dachshund.

The thoracic radiographic changes of Pneumocystis carinii in 7 miniature Dachshunds were reviewed. The dogs were 7-12 months old and presented with polypnea, exercise intolerance and clinical signs suggestive of immune-incompetence. P. carinii pneumonia was diagnosed in all the dogs using transtracheal aspirate cytology and confirmed at postmortem in 3 dogs that died. Radiographically, diffuse pulmonary changes were present and varied from a mild interstitial and bronchial pattern to an alveolar pattern. Radiographic evidence of cor pulmonale was present in 1 dog. The most severe radiographic changes were seen in 2 of the dogs that died.