Aortopulmonary fistula in a Warmblood mare associated with an aortic aneurysm and supravalvular aortic stenosis

Arterial medial calcification (Mönckeberg's sclerosis) with chronic renal disease in a zoo-kept Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

Arterial medial calcification observed in animals is equivalent to Mönckeberg’s sclerosis in human beings. This lesion is rarely reported in domestic animals. In addition, little information is available concerning the occurrence of arterial medial calcification in zoo animals. The aim of the current work was to report arterial medial calcification incidentally encountered in a Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla). This paper described the clinical findings, haematological and serum biochemical profiles, and histopathological results. Haematological examinations showed decreases in white blood cell counts, erythrocytic parameters and platelets. In serum biochemical examinations, both of the creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels markedly increased in this study. Glucose concentrations dramatically declined from the normal levels to the critical conditions. There was electrolytic imbalance which was not accompanied by increases in calcium and inorganic phosphorus concentrations.

Enzyme activities (ALP, AST, ALP, γ-GT, LDH and CK) remarkably increased just before the animal died. Histopathological examinations revealed that this marked and thickened calcification extended linearly around the circumference of the vessels. The calcified deposits were located entirely within the medial layer of the arterial wall. The lesions showed involvement of the internal elastic lamina with calcification. Severe calcification was observed in the glomerular capsules, indicating serious chronic kidney disease. We concluded that arterial medial calcification in the Southern tamandua arose with progressing chronic kidney failure.

Aortopulmonary fistula in a Warmblood mare associated with an aortic aneurysm and supravalvular aortic stenosis

This case report describes the clinical presentation, the necropsy findings, and genetic results of a 13-year-old Warmblood mare presented with colic and a bilaterally loud, holosystolic murmur. Echocardiographic examination revealed the presence of a thoracic aortic aneurysm, an aortic pseudoaneurysm, a periaortic hematoma (circumferential cuffing by perivascular hemorrhage), and aortopulmonary fistulation. A supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) was visible during echocardiography. Necropsy confirmed that the thoracic aortic aneurysm had ruptured and connected to the pseudoaneurysm, which fistulated into the pulmonary artery. Histologically, the aneurysm wall revealed chronic lesions such as fibrosis, mucin depositions, mineralizations, and elastin fragmentation. The mid abdominal aorta showed lesions suggestive of a systemic elastin arteriopathy. Molecular analysis, however, could not attribute this disease to a variant in the elastin gene, the most common causative gene for SVAS. To the authors' knowledge, this case report describes a case of aortopulmonary fistulation in a Warmblood horse associated with the presence of SVAS and an aortic aneurysm.