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1 September 2017 PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN A CAPTIVE POPULATION OF BANDED MONGOOSES (MUNGOS MUNGO)
Javier López, Joanna Dukes-McEwan, Gabby Drake, Julian Chantrey
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Abstract

Between 2006 and 2015, a high incidence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was diagnosed in a captive population of banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) at Chester Zoo, United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to characterize DCM in these mongooses in order to raise awareness of this condition and help inform management and clinical decisions. Prospective clinical assessments, including echocardiography, radiography, and cardiac biomarkers, were carried out in four mongooses remaining in the collection. Radiographs from 15 mature mongooses were reviewed and cardiac size and metrics assessed. Ten postmortem reports and the histologic sections from nine of these cases were reviewed for cardiac lesions. Echocardiographic findings were consistent with a diagnosis of preclinical DCM in one out of the four cases assessed, and it was considered equivocal in a second case. Taurine levels were within normal limits for domestic carnivores. Radiographs in seven mongooses showed right-sided or generalized cardiomegaly. The width of the heart in intercostal spaces and vertebral-tracheal angle on the lateral view were the most-discriminatory radiographic variables for diagnosis of cardiac disease. At necropsy, there was gross pathological evidence consistent with DCM in seven out of 10 mongooses examined. Histopathologically, mild multifocal fibrosis and rare intermyofiber edema were observed. This study provides preliminary evidence that DCM occurs in captive banded mongoose, but etiology and wider prevalence need to be determined.

Copyright 2017 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Javier López, Joanna Dukes-McEwan, Gabby Drake, and Julian Chantrey "PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN A CAPTIVE POPULATION OF BANDED MONGOOSES (MUNGOS MUNGO)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 48(3), 829-841, (1 September 2017). https://doi.org/10.1638/2016-0244.1
Accepted: 1 April 2017; Published: 1 September 2017
KEYWORDS
Banded mongoose
cardiac histopathology
cardiology
dilated cardiomyopathy
echocardiography
Mungos mungo
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