Diagnóstico ecocardiográfico de degeneração mixomatosa valvar em onça-pintada (Panthera onca) de cativeiro

Abstract

Myxomatous degeneration of the cardiac valves, characterized by collagen loss and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the leaflets, is the primary cause of congestive heart failure in small and medium-sized dogs. Although a commonly encountered condition in dogs, its incidence is low in domestic cats and undefined in wild felids. Diagnosis, typically conducted through echocardiography, reveals disorganization and thickening of the cusps and lesions in the valve apparatus, with a greater impact on the mitral valve. This study presents case of myxomatous degeneration in a captive jaguar (Panthera onca), involving both the mitral and tricuspid valves. Echocardiographic examination showed valve thickening of both atrioventricular valves, associated with tricuspid regurgitation and right chamber dilation, while post-mortem examination confirmed valve thickening and shortening, along with histological lesions characterized by endocardial valve thickening and fibroblast proliferation in a myxomatous matrix. Given the scarcity of echocardiographic studies in large felids and the absence of established parameters for the species in question, interpretation of the findings obtained is limited. In captive environments, performing echocardiographic examination may be crucial for species preservation, as they tend to reach advanced ages under these conditions, thereby increasing susceptibility to the development of cardiac diseases.