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SALUKI HEALTH - SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME

OCT2457

POSTMORTEM REPORT 20.10.95 - SUDDEN DEATH OF "SALU"

This report comprises a collation of the autopsy performed by Chris Collic, thc veterinary surgeon attending the dog as wcll as the findings made at Shrewsbury Veterinary Investigation Centre.

History

"Salu" was a 3 1/2 year old entire male Saluki. Chris Collie examined the dog in extremis and reportcd that the margins of the nictating membrane of the eye and the tongue werc cyanotic (blue in colour). The gums retained their normal colour of pink. Blood vessels of the nictating membrane were grossly congested.

Autopsy finding

The right kidney revealed a 1 x 1 x 1 cm of very pale tissue. The only othcr gross postmortem finding was that both mitral and tricuspid valves of the heart had nodulcs their free margins. These were larger than would be expected and grossly suggested an endocardiosis or a vegetative endocarditis. No other gross lesions were seen in any other body tissues. The lack of froth in the trachea would indicate a per acutc death.

A variety of fixed and fresh samples were submitted to Shrewsbury Veterinary Investigation Centre .

Examination of fresh tissues

Bacteriology

The kidney yielded a few non-haemolytic organisms which have been identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. This is not a recognised pathogen of dogs but can on occasions become an opportunist. The fact that no organisms were isolated from the liver lurlg or ileum, confirms the opportunistic nature of this organism. The prcsence of this bacteria could account for the lesions seen at gross postmortem. Biochemistry, howevcr, indicated no loss of kidney function.

Biochemistry

This was useful as it showed that most parameters were within normal or very close to normal. Similarly the haematology showed a possible slight reduction in total of whitc blood cell count, however the percentage in the actual number of Iymphocytes and neutrophils were within the normal range except for a very slight neutrophilia. Eosinophils in Saluki are traditionally high at about 7%. Platelets of 144 are just below the normal range but many Salukis have a range from 150-200 without any apparent adverse reaction.

Histology

Histology revealed that whilst there was gross enlargement of both tricuspid and mitral valves showing considerable degree of oversize, the actual tissue itself showed no abnormality histologically. That is, although there was much typical material there and that the valves were grossly oversized, the tissue present was consistent with normal valvular tissue. There was no evidence of an infectious endocarditis. Histology of other tissues is generally unrewarding except we found changes in the liver which required a second opinion. We still await the result of this second opinion.

Preliminary conclusion

I am of the opinion that the gross changes observed in the heart valves were probably the final cause of death. The reasons for these abnormalities is not clear, however they wcre of sufficient magnitude to be classified as abnormal. ;

C J LEWIS MRCVS

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