Spontaneous Aortic Lesions in Moose (Alces Alces L)

• Published in: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Poungshompoo, Somlak, Rehbinder, Claes
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central 1985
• Subjects: Article; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8202645/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3836572; https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03546525

In 17 out of 22 aortas from moose, 6 months to more than 18 years, aortic lesions were found. Five different types of lesions were observed, fatty streaks were seen in 1, fibrous plaques in 7, fatty streaks with complicated lesions (calcification and acid mucopolysaccharides) in 3, fibrous plaques with complicated lesions in 2 and fibrous plaques with complicated lesions and fat droplets in 4 of the aortas. Elastic tissue degeneration of the inner two thirds of the tunica media was principally found in the aorta of the animals beyond 4 year of age. There was no statistical evidence for a correlation between age and frequency but a trend towards age dependence was seen. The percentage of involved surface was found to increase significantly (0.05 > P > 0.02) with age. There was no significant difference between affected male and female animals in the different age groups. The frequency of involved surface in different affected regions, comprising all age groups were, in the posterior abdominal portion, 13.0 %, in the anterior abdominal portion, 3.0 %, in the posterior thoracic portion 5.2 %, in the anterior thoracic portion, 0.1 % and in the aortic arch, 0.1 %. Proliferating endothelial cells and the source of smooth muscle cells were discussed.