Camelid - Cardiac Disease Flashcards
Which heart sound(s) (in addition to S1 and S2) can be heard in normal, healthy camelids?
S4.
S3 is heard in camelids with diastolic dysfunction and HF.
Describe the physiologic murmur that is commonly heard in crias (and occasionally adults).
Soft (grade 1-2/6) systolic ejection murmur at the left heart base.
What is the most common congenital heart defect described in camelids?
Ventricular septal defect.
NB muscular defects commonly observed!!!
What non-pathologic arrhythmia is common in camelids?
Sinus arrhythmia.
Some evidence that some healthy alpacas demonstrate second-degree AV block at rest.
What is the prevalence of arrhythmias in camelids?
Low e.g. 1.2% in a retrospective study examining 663 ECGs from llamas.
What arrhythmias may occur in camelids with gastrointestinal, neurologic, ocular or respiratory disease and why?
First- and second-degree AV block.
Due to vagal influences.
What is the normal heart rate in healthy adult camelids?
80 beats per minute (range: 50-110 or 60-100 bpm).
List the 12 congenital cardiac defects that has been described in camelids.
VSD, ASD, PFO, PDA, TpF, persistent right aortic arch, double-outlet right ventricle, transposition of the great arteries, persistent trunks arteriosus, mitral and tricuspid valve dysplasia, tricuspid valve atresia, endocardial cushion defects.
Describe the aetiology of nutritional muscular dystrophy and the typical myocardial lesions associated with this condition.
Deficiency in vitamin E or selenium.
Not common in camelids but has been reported in llamas.
White streaks of hyaline degeneration, necrosis and infiltration by mononuclear cells.
What is the most common myocardial parasite of camels, which is also capable of causing disease in camelids?
Sarcosporidia.
Can induce severe focal interstitial myocarditis.
How common are primary or secondary cardiac neoplasia in camelids?
Uncommon. No reports in the literature of primary cardiac neoplasia, one of secondary pulmonary carcinoma metastasis.
Describe the pathophysiology of oleander toxicity in camelids?
Cardiac glycosides contained in all parts of nerium oleander, incl oleandrine, neriin, adynerin –> inhibit Na+/K+/ATPase pump –> alter cytosolic Na+ concentration –> increased cytosolic Ca++ concentration –> arrhythmias (bradycardia, heart block, VPCs, vent tac, vent fib) and sudden death.
How does the distribution of infective endocarditis lesions differ in camelids compared to other large animal and small animal species?
Mural endocardial lesions (either ventricle) more common in camelids than other species; most common lesions in aortic or mitral valve in small animals, mitral = aortic valve > tricuspid > pulmonic in horses and and tricuspid valve in cattle.
Two reports of cries with dilated hearts and poor systolic function exist in the literature. What disease is this comparable to in small animals?
Dilated cardiomyopathy.
The underlying cause was not discovered by thought to be myocarditis causing significant myocardial damage.
List the conditions reported to precede pericardial effusion in camelids?
VSD, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary atresia and pleuropneumonia.
