Aortic Dissection in a Gorilla

Abstract

Autopsy findings in a 39‐year‐old male gorilla included aortic dissection, internal rupture of the aortic arch with axial direction of the tear, external rupture of the ascending aorta, cardiac tamponade, myocardial hypertrophy, cystic and basophilic degeneration of the aortic media, marked obesity, severe degenerative joint disease, focal glomerulonephritis, and widespread hemosiderosis.

Causes of Obesity and Consequences of Obesity Prevention in Non‐human Primates and Other Animal Models

“…Obesity has been identified in many primate species, including orangutans, gorillas (1), chimpanzees (2), baboons (Papio ursinus) (3), vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) (4), cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) (5), bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) (6), pigtail macaques (Macaca nemistrina) (7), squirrel monkeys (8), and the Celebes ape (Macaca nigra) (9), although the species most studied is the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) (10)(11)(12). Several rodent species develop a similar adult-onset obesity, including the Sprague-Dawley rat (13), the gerbil (Psammomys obesus, Israeli desert sand rat) (14), the New Zealand Obese mouse, the BSB mouse (Mus spretus and other strains), and the spiny mouse (Acomys caharinus).…”

Mycobacterium Marinum Dermatitis and Panniculitis with Chronic Pleuritis in a Captive White Whale (Delphinapterus Leucas) with Aortic Rupture

“…Aortic rupture in the absence of aneurysmal changes has not been reported previously in a white whale. Aortic aneurysm, often with extensive dissection of the tunica media, is reported in humans and several species of nonhuman primates 8,9 and is associated with vasculitis, arteriosclerosis, or degenerative vascular disease. In horses 29 and dogs, 1 aortic aneurysm is associated with chronic vascular degeneration and necrosis caused by verminous arteritis.…”