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Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Murrah Buffalos

Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais—UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (RE), Veterinary School, UPIS—Faculdades Integradas, Brasília—DF, Brazil (MVS-O, RMB, HLSJ)

Abstract

Two cases of patent ductus arteriosus are described in 2 Murrah buffalos, a 7.5-month-old heifer calf and a 5-month-old bull calf. The main clinical signs consisted of exercise intolerance, dyspnea, and tachycardia. At necropsy, lesions were consistent with congestive heart failure as indicated by dependent subcutaneous edema, body cavity effusions, and nutmeg liver. The lungs were extensively atelectatic. The heart was enlarged and had a globous shape. The ductus arteriosus, measuring 0.8 cm in length and 0.4 cm in caliber, was patent. The proximal pulmonary artery had an approximately 50-mm-long aneurysm. Eccentric cardiac hypertrophy was evident primarily in the right but to a lesser degree also in the left ventricle. Additionally, there was diffuse subendocardial fibrosis in the left and right ventricle. To the best of the authors' knowledge, patent ductus arteriosus was not previously described in buffalos. Since both calves were sired by the same bull, it is possible that this cardiac anomaly has a hereditary basis.

Key words: Buffalos; compensatory hypertrophy; congenital heart defects; congestive heart failure; patent ductus arteriosus.

Request reprints from Dr. R Ecco, Clinical and Surgery Department, Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais—UFMG, PO Box 567, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais (Brazil). E-mail: ecco{at}vet.ufmg.br