title: Proximal aortic dissection (dissecting aortic aneurysm) in a mature ostrich.
abstract: The gross and histopathologic lesions observed in a case of spontaneous proximal aortic dissection (dissecting aortic aneurysm) in a mature ostrich are reported. At necropsy, a dissecting intramural hematoma was seen in the proximal aorta, extended about 12 cm distally from the aortic valves. Histopathologic changes in aortic dissection included fragmentation and disruption of elastic laminae, presence of cystic extracellular spaces, and pooling of ground substance in the tunica media. Hepatic copper levels were measured, and the low concentration found suggested that a copper deficiency together with other risk factors such as the elevation of blood pressure may have been implicated in the development of the aortic dissection seen in this ostrich.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Medicina Animal Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferreras
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corpa
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: García-Marín
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D020310:Struthioniformes