%0 Journal Article
%T Intramural coronary artery and myocardial pathology in captive tigers (Panthera tigris) and African lions (Panthera leo).
%A Makii RL
%A Muñoz Gutiérrez J
%J Vet Pathol
%V 61
%N 5
%D 2024 Sep 25
%M 38660755
%F 3.157
%R 10.1177/03009858241246984
%X There is limited published data regarding cardiovascular disease in nondomestic felid populations. To address this knowledge gap, necropsy cases of tigers and lions with representative myocardial samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory were histologically assessed with hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red stains. A total of 32 submissions (15 tigers, 17 lions) were identified in a 4-year period. All tigers and lions had some degree of coronary artery lesions in the left ventricle and/or interventricular septum. Major findings included moderate to marked arteriosclerosis in 8 tigers (53%) and 4 lions (24%) and moderate to marked perivascular fibrosis in 10 tigers (67%) and 9 lions (53%). Moreover, 10 tigers (67%) and 8 lions (47%) had coronary artery lesions with variable degrees of perivascular cardiomyocyte degeneration and/or loss. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing coronary artery pathology in captive tigers and lions.