Cases of sudden fatality in whelps due to myocarditis
Sandersleben, J. von; Kriegleder, H.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 121(12): 615-622
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 538444 Document Number: 141928
An increase has recently been observed in the number of whelps dying suddenly from heart failure due to myocarditis. Eleven personal observations are described. Even when there is severe myocarditis a macroscopic examination of the heart may reveal nothing significant, although a marked dilation is not uncommon. This is a non-suppurative myocarditis in which the destruction of the heart muscle cells varies in intensity and it leads to myocardiac fibrosis. In most cases the nuclei of the heart muscle cells will reveal inclusion bodies containing structures resembling parvoviruses. The aetiology of this disease, which has so far been described in Australia, Great Britain and the USA, is discussed.