Di Girolamo N, Critelli M, Zeyen U, Selleri P
Clinica per Animali Esotici, Centro Veterinario Specialistico (CVS), Via Sandro Giovannini 53, 00137, Rome, Italy.
J Small Anim Pract. 2012 Sep;53(9):549-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.2012.01256.x. Epub 2012 Aug 2.
A four-year-old, castrated male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated because of a one-year history of sporadic cough. On physical examination a grade 5 of 6 holosystolic murmur was audible over the right apex of the heart. Radiographic findings included the presence of air bronchograms in apical lobes accompanied by pulmonary venous congestion. Colour Doppler echocardiography revealed a left-to-right shunting compatible with a ventricular septal defect. Medical therapy was initiated at the time of the diagnosis. The ferret was presented again 2 months after the initial examination for coughing and respiratory distress. Echocardiographic findings included tricuspid regurgitation, relative enlargement of left-atrial diameter and decreased systolic function, with presence of pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis was performed and the therapeutic plan was revised. In the following months the symptoms did not recur. In the authors' opinion this is the first report to describe the clinical findings of isolated ventricular septal defect in the ferret. Congenital heart defects are rare in this species, the present ferret being only the second case described.
一只4岁去势雄性雪貂（艾鼬）因有1年的散发性咳嗽病史而接受评估。体格检查时，在心尖右侧可闻及全收缩期杂音，强度为6级中的5级。影像学检查结果包括肺尖叶出现空气支气管征，并伴有肺静脉充血。彩色多普勒超声心动图显示存在左向右分流，符合室间隔缺损。诊断时开始进行药物治疗。初次检查2个月后，这只雪貂因咳嗽和呼吸窘迫再次就诊。超声心动图检查结果包括三尖瓣反流左心房直径相对增大、收缩功能降低，伴有胸腔积液。进行了胸腔穿刺，并修订了治疗方案。在接下来的几个月里，症状未再复发。作者认为，这是第一份描述雪貂孤立性室间隔缺损临床发现的报告。先天性心脏缺陷在该物种中很少见，这只雪貂是描述的第二例病例。
