Congenital Respiratory Tract Defects in Lambs

Abstract

One hundred and forty-seven newborn lambs with congenital defects of the respiratory tract were examined during a 3-year investigation into the causes of perinatal lamb mortality. Respiratory defects were found in 3.3% of the 4,417 lambs examined and in one-third (36.6%) of the 401 congenitally malformed lambs. All the defects were secondary to other more extensive malformations. The upper respiratory tract was involved 3 times more than the lower tract. Males were involved more than females (4:3). The upper tract defects were harelip, cleft palate, atelorrhinia, arrhinia, proboscis, fused nostrils and choanal atresia. One of the facial clefts was a rare median harelip associated with cleft palate and fused nostrils. The lower tract defects were pulmonary agenesis, hypoplasia and duplication. The 2 most common defects were choanal atresia and secondary pulmonary hypoplasia. It was concluded that primary defects of the respiratory tract of sheep are rare and that secondary defects are relatively common.

Congenital Cardiac Anomalies in a Lamb

“…Ventricular septa1 defect is among the most common cardiac anomalies in animals [6], whereas tricuspid valve atresia is a rare condition [4,71. Relatively few studies have been reported about congenital cardiac anomalies in sheep [2,3,5,7]. This paper reports right atrioventricular valve atresia associated with two other developmental cardiac defects in a two-month-old lamb.…”

“…BISAILLON, L. DEROTH, and R. ROY Although congenital cardiac defects seem relatively common in all domesticated animals, the incidence of these anomalies in lambs has been estimated to be only 0.11% of births [3]. Ventricular septa1 defect is among the most common cardiac anomalies in animals [6], whereas tricuspid valve atresia is a rare condition [4,71.…”

Persistent Truncus Arteriosus with Dissecting Aneurysm and Subsequent Cardiac Tamponade in a Lamb

“…"content-markup(./author-grp [1]/aff|./author-grp [1]/dept-list)> Cardiac anomalies account for 9-12% of all congenital malformations in domestic animals, including small ruminants. 6,20 In sheep, an estimated total incidence of congenital cardiac malformations of 0.11% has been reported. 6 The most common cardiac anomalies in ruminants include ventricular septal defects, persistent ductus arteriosus, aortic or pulmonic stenosis, and dysplasia of the atrioventricular valves.…”

“…6 The most common cardiac anomalies in ruminants include ventricular septal defects, persistent ductus arteriosus, aortic or pulmonic stenosis, and dysplasia of the atrioventricular valves. 6,7,10 Persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA), also called truncus arteriosus communis, is a serious cardiac malformation characterized by a single arterial trunk originating from both ventricles, usually overriding a ventricular septal defect and giving rise to the coronary, pulmonary, and systemic arteries. There are only a few reported cases in domestic animals, including calves, horses, piglets, dogs, cats, and a single lamb.…”

Multiple cardiac anomaly in sheep: A case study and review of the literature

“…In one case a double-outlet right ventricle was found in a dog ( Wakao et al, 1977). Malformations described in ruminants included anomaly of the right subclavian artery (Paira, 1948), pectoral ectopia of the heart (Eroksuz et al, 1998), three-chambered heart (Loráth, 1987;Loon et al, 1996), tetralogy of Fallot (Nakade et al, 1993) in calves and other types of congenital malformations in sheep (Dennis and Leinold, 1968).…”