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Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy as a cause of unexpected cardiac death in two horses.
Abstract: Postmortem and histological examination of the hearts from two horses, a five-year-old Clydesdale gelding and a 15-year-old cob gelding, revealed changes characteristic of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. In both cases, on gross examination, the right ventricular endocardium and interventricular septum were almost entirely replaced with a gelatinous yellow fibroareolar tissue. This tissue was histologically a combination of fibrous and adipose tissue that had replaced the normal myofibres and disrupted the Purkinje fibres.
Publication Date: 2010-06-09 PubMed ID: 20525948DOI: 10.1136/vr.c3000Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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Summary
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This research article investigates the unexpected deaths of two mature horses, which were found to have a heart condition known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, following postmortem examination.
Introduction to the Condition
- The research study focused on a condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
- ARVC is a type of heart disease that primarily affects the right ventricle of the heart.
- This disease involves the replacement of myocardium, or heart muscle, with fibrous and fatty tissues, disrupting the normal heart rhythm.
Postmortem Examination
- Following the unexpected deaths of two horses, a postmortem examination was conducted to determine the cause.
- The horses in question were a five-year-old Clydesdale gelding and a 15-year-old cob gelding.
- During the examination, gross pathological changes were found, notably, the right ventricular endocardium and interventricular septum of the horses’ hearts were largely replaced with a gelatinous yellow fibroareolar tissue.
Histological Findings
- A histological examination of the changes further confirmed the presence of ARVC.
- The tissue that had replaced the normal myofibres in the right ventricle was found to be a combination of fibrous and fatty, or adipose, tissue.
- This is typical of ARVC, as these tissues disrupt normal cardiac function by replacing the myocardium and interrupting the function of the Purkinje fibres which are crucial for maintaining a healthy and stable heart rhythm.
- The disruption of these fibres can lead to a range of cardiac abnormalities, including failure of the right side of the heart, arrhythmias and, ultimately, sudden death.
Conclusion
- Through gross postmortem and histological examination, the study concluded that the unexpected deaths of both geldings were caused by ARVC.
- These findings highlight the possible presence and impact of this condition within the equine community, calling for more research and awareness about its prevalence and effects among horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Freel KM, Morrison LR, Thompson H, Else RW.
(2010).
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy as a cause of unexpected cardiac death in two horses.
Vet Rec, 166(23), 718-721.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.c3000 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Pathology, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG. jk.freel@btopenworld.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / complications
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / veterinary
- Cause of Death
- Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology
- Death, Sudden, Cardiac / veterinary
- Endocardium / pathology
- Fatal Outcome
- Heart Septum / pathology
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Sun T, Huang GY, Wang ZH, Teng SH, Cao YH, Sun JL, Hanif Q, Chen NB, Lei CZ, Liao YY. Selection signatures of Fuzhong Buffalo based on whole-genome sequences. BMC Genomics 2020 Sep 29;21(1):674.
- Goto Asakawa M, Mehmood W, Ali M, Oikawa MA. Idiopathic multifocal myocardial atrophy with fibrosis and fatty infiltration involving Purkinje fibres in a 13-year-old Arabian broodmare: Histopathological features. Vet Med Sci 2021 Jan;7(1):3-8.
- Simpson S, Rutland P, Rutland CS. Genomic Insights into Cardiomyopathies: A Comparative Cross-Species Review. Vet Sci 2017 Mar 21;4(1).
- Romanucci M, Defourny SV, Massimini M, Valerii V, Arbuatti A, Giordano V, Bongiovanni L, Perrone C, Della Salda L. Unexpected Cardiac Death During Anaesthesia of a Young Rabbit Associated with Fibro-fatty Replacement of the Right Ventricular Myocardium. J Comp Pathol 2017 Jan;156(1):33-36.
- Raftery AG, Garcia NC, Thompson H, Sutton DG. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy secondary to adipose infiltration as a cause of episodic collapse in a horse. Ir Vet J 2015;68:24.
- Wilders R. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: considerations from in silico experiments. Front Physiol 2012;3:168.
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