Histologic Characterization of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Estrela Mountain Dogs

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Lobo, L (Author) Other; carvalheira, j (Author) ICBAS; canada, n (Author) ICBAS; Bussadori, C (Author) Other; Gomes, JL (Author) Other; Faustino, AMR (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Veterinary Pathology

Vol. 47

Pages: 637-642

ISSN: 0300-9858

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-5JE

DOI: 10.1177/0300985810364511

Abstract (EN): Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second-most-important acquired cardiovascular disease in dogs (excluding heartworm disease in some geographic regions) and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Estrela Mountain Dogs. The objective of this study is to describe the histologic features of DCM in Estrela Mountain Dogs, with special attention to the localization and quantification of attenuated wavy fibers (AWFs), fibrosis, and fatty infiltration. Myocardial samples from 10 areas were collected from the hearts of 10 dogs with DCM and 7 dogs without signs of cardiac disease-namely, the basal, middle, and apical portions of the free wall of both cardiac ventricles and the interventricular septum, as well as the left ventricular papillary muscle. In each sample, the presence or absence of AWFs was noted, and fatty infiltration and fibrosis were quantified. Fatty infiltration, fibrosis, and AWFs were observed in the myocardium of all dogs with DCM, in contrast to what has been described in other breeds. The left ventricular myocardium was the best tissue for diagnosis of DCM, based on these histologic features. The authors concluded that quantification of fibrosis and observation of AWFs in the left ventricular myocardium are useful in the histologic diagnosis of DCM in Estrela Mountain dogs.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6