Prevalence of Cardiopathies in Wild Animals Kept in Captivity
Authors: de Aquino Bravini Maria Izabel , Setim Fabíola Eloisa , Mergulhão Eliane Penha , Duarte Janaína 
Published: April 2020

There are not related cases with detailed analysis of cardiopathy epidemiology in wild animals. For having a very different physiology and behavior comparing to dogs and cats, there isn’t any standard reference guide to help responsible Vets looking for cardiopathies signs and establishing treatment protocols. This research analyzed 40 cases on Zoológico de Guarulhos of animals that lived significant time of their lives there and died between 2017 and 2019, considering their medical history and necropsy. Analyzing all the 40 cases, the Graphic 1 shows the prevalence of cardiopathies on Birds, Reptiles and Mammals. On birds, of the 20 animals, seven (35%) were affected by cardiopathies, and three (15%) of them died by cardiopathies. On Mammals, of the 17 animals, seven (41,18%) were affected by cardiopathies and two of them died (11,76%). On Reptiles, on the other hand, none of the animals were affected. Three of the seven cases of Mammals occurred on Callitrichidae, as expected by the literature that shows a high incidence on Primates. Although the relates and institutions created to research Primates cardiopathies are all focused on Great Primates, existing very few relates about Callitrichidae. An adult, male, Saguinus bicolor, presented hypertrophic cardiomyopathy of the right ventricle, and had sudden death on his enclosure, without any sign of disease noticed. The other death occurred on a Sphiggurus villosus, an adult male that presented circulatory collapse. Necropsy showed the progression of diverse cardiopathies, as endocardiosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion and constrictive pericarditis. Among the birds, we can observe the surprisingly high incidence, especially among the Psittacidae and Ramphastidae, responsible for the three deaths, a higher number than Mammals. There is no literature about it useful of comparison. The Psittacidae representative that died was an adult, female, Amazona amazonica. She was the only bird on treatment for cardiopathy (cardiac congestive insufficiency) and even though, died nine days after starting it. Necropsy showed infectious pericardial effusion that probably resulted on cardiac tamponade and death. The Ramphastidae representatives that died were both elderly, females, Ramphastos dicolorus. One of them presented hemorrhagic infarction and pericardial effusion with blood, among liver, spleen and kidneys congestive, hemorrhagic on cut, and lungs with petechiae. The animal was being treated for apathy without defined etiology. The other one was found dead on her enclosure, without previous symptoms. Necropsy showed atherosclerosis of the major vessels, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion with a little amount of blood and constrictive pericarditis.

The highest affections among all animals were pericardial effusion (with three of the four cases on birds, all them in Ramphastidae) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (being the Psittacidae the most affected). Besides the small N, this research shows the high prevalence of cardiopathies in wild animals. In Brazil, there is no research on the subject, highlighting the need for further studies, especially on Brazilian’s native animals, shown to have important prevalence.

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Universidade Paulista

Figure 1