Fibrous Endocarditis in a Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)

An 18-year-old female reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), which had shown signs of congestive heart failure, was examined cardiopathologically. The heart was grossly enlarged and rounded. Both ventricular cavities were noticeably dilated. In the left ventricular wall, two hard masses of greyish-whitish in color were found on the upper portions of the anterior and posterior papillary muscles (6×4cm and 8×3cm, respectively). The chordae tendineae and a part of the leaflets of the mitral valve were involved in both of the mass lesions. On the endocardial surface of the left atrium, there were opaque, wrinkled areas of endocardial thickening characteristic of jet lesions. Microscopically, the mass lesions were of organized thrombotic endocarditis in the chordae tendineae, regarded as fibrous endocarditis.