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Ferrets (Laboratory) - Pathology (view source)
Revision as of 16:27, 4 March 2011
, 16:27, 4 March 2011→Cardiovascular System
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Gross lesions in sub-clinical cases may include a congested and occasionally nodular liver, the heart may be enlarged and the right ventricle may appear thin or flabby. In severe cases gross lesions may include an accumulation of serosanguinous ascitic transudate in the abdominal cavity and/or the pleural cavity. The lungs may also be atelectatic (lack of gas exchange within alveoli, due to alveolar collapse or fluid consolidation) and compressed by the heart. There may also be significant pleural effusion. Microscopic lesions in early cases will include an increase in fibrous connective tissue around myocardial vessels that may extend into the interstitium. In advanced cases there will be atrophy and loss of myocytes. Within focal areas of myocyte denegeration there may also be moderate numbers of macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells and rare neutrophils. Signs of liver congestion such as fibrosis will may also be present. In terminal cases there may be necrosis of centrilobular hepatocytes due to stasis and hypoxia.
Gross lesions in sub-clinical cases may include a congested and occasionally nodular liver, the heart may be enlarged and the right ventricle may appear thin or flabby. In severe cases gross lesions may include an accumulation of serosanguinous ascitic transudate in the abdominal cavity and/or the pleural cavity. The lungs may also be atelectatic (lack of gas exchange within alveoli, due to alveolar collapse or fluid consolidation) and compressed by the heart. There may also be significant pleural effusion. Microscopic lesions in early cases will include an increase in fibrous connective tissue around myocardial vessels that may extend into the interstitium. In advanced cases there will be atrophy and loss of myocytes. Within focal areas of myocyte denegeration there may also be moderate numbers of macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells and rare neutrophils. Signs of liver congestion such as fibrosis will may also be present. In terminal cases there may be necrosis of centrilobular hepatocytes due to stasis and hypoxia.
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'''Dirofilariasis'''
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Although uncommon, ferrets are susceptible to heartworm infection. Due to the relatively small size of the ferret heart, as little as two worms may result in fatal cardiac insufficiency.
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Gross lesions will include the presence of heartworms within the right ventricles and pulmonary artery and can be construed as the cause of death of any ferret in which they are found. Microscopic lesions will include normal signs expected with heart failure.
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