Cardiovascular diseases are rarely reported in birds. Among pet birds, they are most documented in psittacine birds. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disease frequently found in poultry but with few reports in both pet and wild birds. An elderly male green-winged saltator (Saltator similis) died suddenly after presenting intermittent clinical signs of dyspnea, weakness, and vocalization changes. A general increase in cardiac size with a bulging apex was observed at necropsy. The heart exhibited an enlarged left ventricular space and flaccid musculature on the cut section. The liver was diffusely enlarged with rounded edges. No other gross lesions were observed. Samples were collected in 10% formalin and routinely processed. Histologically, bundles of myocardial fibers were irregularly arranged, with markedly elongated myofibrils and irregular cell contours. Additionally, multifocal areas of disruption were observed between the myofibrils. Diffuse hepatic congestion of sinusoids and portal veins was observed, and diffuse edema in the interstitium and para bronchi was present in the lungs. The clinical signs observed were nonspecific and can be found in several diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of birds. The gross and histological findings are compatible with what has been described for dilated cardiomyopathy in birds; however, left ventricular dilatation is uncommon in avian patients. Heart diseases in pet birds are still underdiagnosed, and reports of cardiomyopathies are limited to psittacine birds. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a dilated cardiomyopathy in a passerine bird.

José Lucas Costa Duarte

Wellington Martins dos Santos

Hodias Sousa de Oliveira

Gabriel Forte Paranhos

Helder Carlos Costa Pereira

Jeann Leal de Araújo

Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology

The Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology is the official electronic periodical of the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Pathology.    The purpose of the BJVP is to publish original full papers, short communications, case reports, letters, reviews (by invited experts) and abstracts of scientific meetings.    The preferable subjects  is natural and experimental pathology. All the articles are submitted to scientific reviewers.

The Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology is the official electronic journal of the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Pathology. The purpose of the BJVP is to publish original full papers, short communications, case reports, letters, reviews (by invited experts), and abstracts of scientific meetings. The journal primarily focuses on natural and experimental pathology. All articles are subject to scientific review.

《Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology》是巴西兽医病理学会的官方电子期刊。BJVP的目的是发表原创的完整论文、短篇通讯、病例报告、信件、专家邀请的综述以及科学会议的摘要。期刊主要关注自然病理学和实验病理学。所有文章均需经过科学审稿。

Dilated cardiomyopathy in a green-winged saltator (Saltator similis)

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