Double-outlet right ventricle associated with discordant atrioventricular connection and dextrocardia in a cat

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Cardiology
• Comparative Pathology
• Congenital Abnormalities

Background:

• Congenital cardiac disease (CCD) affects 0.2-1% of cats, with males more commonly affected.
• Discordant atrioventricular connection (dAVC) is rare in humans and not previously documented in animals.
• Double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a rare congenital heart defect in children.

Observation:

• A feline patient presented with complex cardiac malformations.
• The cat exhibited discordant atrioventricular connection, a condition where atrial and ventricular connections are reversed.
• The patient also presented with double-outlet right ventricle, a defect where both major arteries originate from the right ventricle.

Findings:

• This case represents the first documented instance of combined discordant atrioventricular connection and double-outlet right ventricle in a feline.
• The co-occurrence of these two rare cardiac anomalies in a single animal is highly unusual.
• Diagnostic imaging and pathological examination confirmed the complex congenital cardiac defects.

Implications:

• This report expands the understanding of congenital cardiac disease in felines.
• It highlights the possibility of rare and complex cardiac anomalies occurring in veterinary patients.
• Further research may elucidate the genetic or environmental factors contributing to such rare conditions in cats.