title: Chronic heart failure due to severe endocardiosis in a Gambian giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus).
abstract: A 1.5-yr-old captive male Gambian giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) died after suffering from anorexia, weakness, and dyspnea for 3 wk. Thoracic radiographs of thorax and abdomen and computed tomography showed a severe biventricular enlargement of the heart and a moderate hepatomegaly. Necropsy revealed a severe, bilateral hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilation of the right ventricle due to multifocal bilateral, valvular endocardiosis of all atrioventricular valves and acute hepatic congestion. Histologically, the atrioventricular valves were multifocally thickened by a marked endocardiosis with stromal accumulation of Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive, mucinous material. Although common in dogs, endocardiosis has not been described in Nesomyidaes. As in other affected species, the pathogenesis of endocardiosis in this species remains unclear.
authors: Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oertzenweg 19b, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Müller
authors: Britta
authors: B
authors: Horn
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Fritsch
authors: Friederike
authors: F
authors: Range
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Klopfleisch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012377:Rodentia