Atherosclerotic aortic aneurysm in a steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Abstract

A 23-year-old female imprinted steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) was presented by a public falconry centre for postmortem examination following sudden death with no previous clinical signs. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of 150 ml of blood within the coelomic cavity, with a packed cell volume of 42% indicating an acute, internal haemorrhage as a presumptive cause of death. A well-demarcated, solid, hard, ovoid, approximately 3 cm×2 cm (in cross section) mass was discovered within the body of the aorta adjacent to the ovary. Histological examination confirmed this to be an aortic aneurysm underlain by severe atherosclerosis with a transmural rupture.

Effect of different injection rates and doses of contrast medium on the image quality of computed tomographic angiography in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus)

“…Diagnosing atherosclerosis antemortem in birds is difficult [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. A tentative diagnosis can be made based on clinical presentation and risk factors for atherosclerosis, but a highly presumptive diagnosis might rely primarily on diagnostic imaging [10][11][12].…”

Effect of Different Injection Rates and Doses of Contrast Medium on the Image Quality of Computed Tomographic Angiography in African Grey Parrots (Psittacus Erithacus)

“…Diagnosing atherosclerosis antemortem in birds is di cult [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. A tentative diagnosis can be made based on clinical presentation and risk factors for atherosclerosis, but a highly presumptive diagnosis might rely primarily on diagnostic imaging [17][18][19].…”