Aortic rupture causing cardiac tamponade in a 24‐day‐old Friesian colt with concurrent colonic Chlamydiosis and Balantidiasis

Abstract

Summary A 24‐day‐old Friesian colt died suddenly and a physical examination the morning the foal died showed no abnormalities and serum IgG levels >8.0 g/l. Necropsy examination revealed haemopericardium and a 2 cm transverse tear at the root of the aorta. The foal was also found to have Chlamydophila spp. in the epithelium and Balantidium coli on the mucosal surface of the large colon. An aortic rupture is a novel finding in a foal, colonic Chlamydiosis has not been previously reported in horses and Balantidium coli has not been reported in equids in North America.

Aortic rupture in Friesian horses

“…Medial necrosis, smooth muscle cell hypertrophy, elastin fragmentation and mucoid accumulation are present in Friesians with aortic rupture, even in acute cases (Ploeg et al 2015). In the report by Diel de Amorim et al (2016), the very young age of the foal, the atypical location and absence of typical histological hallmarks are unusual. A connective tissue defect seems thus less likely in this case.…”

“…In the report by Diel de Amorim et al . (), the very young age of the foal, the atypical location and absence of typical histological hallmarks are unusual. A connective tissue defect seems thus less likely in this case.…”