Co-incident severe copper deficiency and sudden death due to spontaneous rupture of carotid artery may indicate carotid dissection (aneurysm) in an ostrich

Abstract

Objectives: Nowadays large scale ostrich breeding is expanding worldwide. In developing countries, in which ostrich<br><br>business is in infancy state, the industry is not well designed and defined. Therefore, mismanagement and nutritional<br><br>imbalances, such as vitamin, mineral and trace element deficiencies, are among frequent observation by ostrich<br><br>veterinarian. According to the literature, copper deficiency affects the lipid metabolism and is associated with<br><br>aneurysms in ostrich. In this article, a case of sudden death with spontaneous hematoma in carotid artery, coincident<br><br>with sever copper deficiency in an ostrich is reported which might be due to vascular aneurysm.<br><br>Materials & Methods: An ostrich farmer presented a dead ostrich case with the history of sudden death and a large<br><br>hematoma in neck region. He also described two more cases with history of sudden death and large blood clot in the<br><br>thorax in the past 3 weeks. The age of birds ranged between 5 to 7 years. The flock had a history of low performance.<br><br>Despite post mortem changes, necropsy was performed. Unfortunately, due to pm changes, no suitable sample was<br><br>found to be collected for histopathology. However, a sample from liver was taken for atomic adsorption analysis of<br><br>copper concentration in the tissue.<br><br>Results & Conclusion: In necropsy a large hematoma and an obvious longitudinal tear was demonstrated in the carotid<br><br>artery, along with hypovolemic anemia in mucus membranes and most organs. No other gross abnormalities were<br><br>observed. Based on the history of malnutrition, diet imbalance and low performance in the flock, as well as necropsy<br><br>findings, carotid artery dissection (aneurysm) was tentatively diagnosed. Based on the data provided by atomic<br><br>adsorption analysis, concentration of the liver sample was as low as 1 ppm, however, it was not possible to confirm that<br><br>the two other cases described by the farmer, were really caused by aneurysm. It was concluded that there might be a<br><br>relationship between the severe copper deficiency in the case examined and possibly in the flock, and observation of the<br><br>longitudinal dissection in the carotid artery, resulting in carotid artery dissection or Aneurysm in carotid artery. To our<br><br>knowledge it is a first case report of sever copper deficiency con incident with carotid artery dissection.