Electrocardiography, gross and histopathological lesions of the heart of captive reticulated python (Python reticulatus, Schneider, 1801), (Reptilia: Squamata: Pythonidae) with pneumonia

Date

6-2015

Degree

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

College

College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Emilia A Lastica-Temura

Co-adviser

Karlo Romano B Gicana

Abstract

The study determined the electrocardiography, gross and histopathological lesion of the heart of 12 captive reticulated pythons diagnosed with pneumonia. Electrocardiographic tracings were collected using the base-apex lead system and results showed that pythons with pneumonia have lower S wave and T wave amplitudes and shorter ST segment duration compared to the baseline values from apparently healthy specimens. Abnormalities in waveform morphologies including absence of recognizable waveforms (n=2), low voltage reading (n=2), atrial fibrillation (n=5), notched P wave (n=2), inverted P wave (n=5), elevated PR segment (n=2), notched T wave (n=2), inverted T wave (n=4) and elevated ST segment with T wave inversion (n=1) were seen. The animals were euthanized and hearts were examined for gross and histopathological lesions. Grossly, pericardial effusion (n=7) was commonly observed and one had pale atria. Histopathological examination of the heart tissues revealed histiocytic granuloma formation (n=1), chondrocyte metaplasia (n=3), myocardial degeneration (n=10), edema (n=3) and infiltration of eosinophils within the endocardium of the aortic trunk (n=1) were present. Results of this study suggest that detection of any of the said electrocardiographic abnormality can prompt for the assessment, diagnosing and monitoring cardiac condition in captive reticulated pythons with suspected and confirmed pneumonia.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2015 V4 B35

Document Type

Thesis

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