title: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia with concurrent aplasia of the pericardium in a foal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In veterinary medicine congenital abnormalities of the diaphragm and pericardium are rare, idiopathic malformations, being reported mainly in dogs. This report documents an unusual case of developmental defects in a foal consisting of diaphragmatic hernia concurrent with pericardial aplasia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following a normal delivery, a full term, female Friesian stillborn foal with the placenta was presented for necropsy. External morphological examination indicated a normally developed foal. At necropsy, a large oval defect (approximately 20 × 15 cm in size) was observed in the left-dorsal side of the diaphragm (left lumbocostal triangle). This defect allowed the intestinal loops, spleen and partially the liver to translocate into the thorax. The loops of the left ascending colon, including the pelvic flexure and partially the small intestine covered the cranial and dorsal posterior parts of the heart due to the complete absence of the left pericardium. The remaining pericardium presented as a white, semi-transparent strip, partially covering the right side of the heart. The left lung and the main bronchus were severely hypoplastic to approximately one-fifth the size of their right homologue. The intermediate part of the liver, containing mainly the enlarged quadrate lobe was translocated in the thorax, severely enlarged and showed marked fibrosis. Histologically in the herniated lobes we diagnosed hepatic chronic passive congestion, telangiectasia and medial hypertrophy of blood vessels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concomitant malformation involving diaphragmatic hernia and pericardial aplasia in horses have not been previously reported. Moreover, this is the first case describing pericardial aplasia in horse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandru-Flaviu
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Tăbăran
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Toxicology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
authors.forename: Andras Laszlo
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
authors.forename: Cornel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cătoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Veterinary Gynecology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
authors.forename: Iancu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morar
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production and Food Safety, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tăbăran
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Veterinary Gynecology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihaiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Mănăştur Street, Cluj-Napoca, 400372, Romania. pompeibolfa@gmail.com.|Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts, West Indies. pompeibolfa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pompei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bolfa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D010496:Pericardium / Q000002:abnormalities*; D050497:Stillbirth