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Case Reports
. 2016 Jul;30(4):1210-5.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.13967. Epub 2016 May 10.

Diagnostic Features of Acute Chagas Myocarditis with Sudden Death in a Family of Boxer Dogs

J P Vitt  1 , A B Saunders  1 , M T O'Brien  2 , J Mansell  2 , D K Ajithdoss  2 , S A Hamer  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Diagnostic Features of Acute Chagas Myocarditis with Sudden Death in a Family of Boxer Dogs

J P Vitt et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2016 Jul.
No abstract available

Keywords: Arrhythmia; Canine; Troponin; Trypanosoma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Echocardiographic images of the index puppy (A, C) and littermate #1 (B, D) for comparison purposes. Images from the right parasternal short axis view document normal ventricular chamber size for littermate #1 (B) compared to the index puppy where the right ventricle (RV) is severely dilated and a wide complex tachycardia is noted on the simultaneous ECG (A). Images from the left apical 4 chamber view document normal chamber size in littermate #1 and an ectopic beat on simultaneous ECG (D) compared to the index puppy where the right atrium (RA) is severely dilated (C, also depicted in the online version as Video S1). LA, left atrium, LV, left ventricle.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hearts from both puppies that died suddenly depicting marked myocardial changes observed for the index puppy (A) and littermate #3 (B). Both puppies had diffusely pale, mottled myocardium. Right atrial (RA) enlargement can be appreciated in littermate #3.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representative histologic images of lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic necrotizing pancarditis affecting the right atria (A and B), right ventricles (C and D), and left ventricles (E and F) of the index puppy (A, C, E) and littermate #3 (B, D, F). The myocardial inflammation is generally similar between the puppies, both in cellular composition and severity with few normal cardiomyocytes remaining in all sections. A fibrinocellular thrombus (*) can be observed within the right atrial lumen of the index puppy (A). 4× (insert magnification is 40×), H&E. RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; LV, left ventricle.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Histopathology of the myocardium in the index puppy documenting myocardial inflammatory infiltrate comprising lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages; which was similar in composition for both affected puppies. In this field, cardiomyocytes have loss of cross striations, hypereosinophilia, and loss of nuclear detail indicative of degeneration and necrosis, and are separated by clear space (edema). Also present are four pseudocysts filled with amastigotes (arrowheads), as well as a few degenerate neutrophils infiltrating an infected, necrotic cardiomyocyte (arrow), 40×, H&E. (B–D) Histopathology from littermate #3 illustrating (B) a cardiomyocyte containing a pseudocyst with numerous amastigotes (arrowheads) 60×, H&E; (C) a focal area of necrosis and lymphohistiocytic inflammation within the liver and a macrophage filled with intracytoplasmic amastigotes (arrowhead) 40×, H&E; (D) diffuse, marked lymphoid hyperplasia of the spleen as well as occasional macrophages filled with amastigotes (arrowhead) 60×, H&E.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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