Syncope associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a dromedary camel

A case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is described for the first time. The patient, a castrated 9-year-old animal, presented with a 6-month history of several episodes of syncope after moderate exercise and later at rest. The syncope had a sudden onset and a duration of 30 to 45 seconds. After clinical, electrocardiographical and echocardiographical examination, a tentative diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was made. At necropsy, the heart had a globose shape and was firm on palpation. The left ventricular free wall and the interventricular septum were thickened in cross-section and the left ventricular lumen was small. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination of heart tissue that demonstrated hypertrophy of myocardial fibres with vesicular nuclei and the presence of diffuse interstitial fibrosis.