Persistent right aortic arch and associated axial skeletal malformations in cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Genetics

Background:

• Persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) is an uncommon vascular anomaly in cats, typically causing esophageal obstruction.
• Concomitant axial skeletal malformations with PRAA have not been previously reported in feline species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe potential concurrent skeletal malformations in cats diagnosed with PRAA.
• To investigate a possible association between PRAA and skeletal abnormalities in cats.

Main Methods:

• Six cats with vascular ring anomalies, specifically PRAA, were enrolled.
• Physical, neurological examinations, and whole-body radiography were performed.
• Genetic testing for DiGeorge region alterations was conducted on one cat.

Main Results:

• Four out of six cats with PRAA also exhibited skeletal malformations.
• A higher frequency of skeletal malformations was observed in cats with PRAA compared to the general feline population.
• Genetic testing did not reveal a correlation between PRAA and DiGeorge genomic deletion.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests a potential association between persistent right aortic arch and axial skeletal malformations in cats.
• While preliminary, these findings indicate a novel clinical feature associated with PRAA.
• Further research with a larger sample size is necessary to confirm the correlation and explore underlying mechanisms.