Reference Values for Postmortem Examination of the Heart in the Macropod (<i>Macropodidae</i>) and Koala (<i>Phascolarctidae</i>)
Morphometric cardiac reference values are reported for macropods and koalas (<i>Phascolarctos cinereus</i>). Body weight (BW), heart weight (HW), left ventricle (LV) wall, interventricular septum (S), right ventricle (RV) wall thickness, and LV+S and RV weights were measured at postmorte...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1397 |
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| Summary: | Morphometric cardiac reference values are reported for macropods and koalas (<i>Phascolarctos cinereus</i>). Body weight (BW), heart weight (HW), left ventricle (LV) wall, interventricular septum (S), right ventricle (RV) wall thickness, and LV+S and RV weights were measured at postmortem examination of 48 macropods and 32 koalas that had no evidence of cardiovascular disease. The HW/BW% (0.43–0.96%) and (LV+S)/RV (2.80–4.22) for macropods were comparable to domestic species. In koalas, the HW/BW% (0.25–0.51%) was lower, and the (LV+S)/RV (3.06–5.41) ranged higher than in macropods and domestic species. The LV:RV of koalas (1.0–10.8) was more variable than in macropods (1.17–4.27). Two macropods with cardiac disease were assessed on postmortem examination against the generated reference values. An adult male common wallaroo (<i>Osphranter robustus</i>) was found dead with copious serous peritoneal effusion, chronic passive hepatic congestion with centrilobular fibrosis, and dilation of the RV, while the LV:RV was elevated, supportive of RV thinning. A 21-year-old female zoo-housed Matschie’s tree kangaroo (<i>Dendrolagus matschiei</i>) had a flaccid thin-walled RV, LV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial myocardial fibrosis and myofiber degeneration, pulmonary oedema, and serous pericardial effusion. The (LV+S)/RV and LV:RV were elevated and RV:S decreased, supporting left hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Species-specific reference values presented in this study facilitate objective and improved postmortem cardiac assessment in macropods and koalas. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-2615 |