Ventricular Septal Defect in a Bengal Tiger Diagnosed by Color Flow Echocardiography

Abstract

A 23-day-old Bengal tiger was referred to the Osaka Prefecture University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with dysgenesis and dyspnea. Auscultation revealed systolic murmurs. Radiography revealed cardiomegaly. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a defect at the membranous part of the septum. Shunt flow from left ventricle to right ventricle was demonstrated by color flow echocardiography. Based on these findings, this tiger was diagnosed as ventricular septal defect. This is the first case report of ventricular septal defect diagnosed by color flow echocardiography in the wildlife animals.