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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
N Machida1, M Hirose, T Nakamura
1Department of Veterinary Pathology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan.
Insights
A case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a wombat revealed significant heart abnormalities. These findings in the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) closely mirror HCM observed in humans and other species.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Cardiology
- Comparative Medicine
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a primary cardiac disorder characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy.
- HCM affects various mammalian species, but reports in marsupials are rare.
- Understanding HCM in diverse species aids in comparative pathology and disease mechanisms.
Observation:
- A necropsy was performed on a common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) presenting with cardiac abnormalities.
- Gross examination revealed symmetrical ventricular hypertrophy, a constricted left ventricular cavity, and left atrial dilatation.
- Microscopic analysis showed disorganized cardiac muscle cells, interstitial fibrosis, and arteriosclerosis in intramural coronary arteries.
Findings:
- The wombat exhibited pathological changes consistent with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
- Key histological features included myocardial disarray, fibrosis, and fibromuscular hyperplasia of small coronary arteries.
- These cardiac alterations were extensive, affecting both ventricles.
Implications:
- This case expands the known species affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- The wombat's HCM shares similarities with human and other animal forms, offering insights into disease pathogenesis.
- Findings contribute to veterinary cardiology and the comparative study of cardiac diseases.
Abstract:
A case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in a common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) is described. At necropsy, the heart showed symmetrical ventricular hypertrophy, a narrow left ventricular cavity, and dilatation of the left atrium. Microscopical findings in the ventricular myocardium included a strikingly disordered arrangement of cardiac muscle cells, in which adjacent cells were aligned perpendicularly and obliquely to each other, interstitial myocardial fibrosis, and arteriosclerosis of small intramural coronary arteries (fibromuscular hyperplasia). The changes, which were widespread in both ventricles, resembled those of HCM in man and other animals.