CLINICAL-DIAGNOSIS OF ANEURYSM OF THE RIGHT CORONARY-ARTERY IN A WHITE COCKATOO (CACATUA-ALBA)

A 16-year-old male white cockatoo was presented with lethargy and a de creased appetite. Auscultation between the second and third sternal ri b revealed a heart murmur, which was confirmed by electrocardiographic and phonocardiographic examination to be systolic, with a shift of th e heart axis to -152 degrees. Radiographs showed lack of detail in the cranial part of the abdominal coelom, indicative of ascites and an en larged cardiac shadow, while ultrasonographic examination revealed per icardial effusion and fluid accumulation in the cavitas peritonealis h epatica. An extra fluid-filled cavity was found at the atrioventricula r junction in the right cardiac wall and colour Doppler examination de monstrated a turbulent jetstream of blood into the cavity, originating directly above the aortic valve. Non-selective angiocardiography conf irmed the ultrasonographic observations. Findings were indicative of a n aneurysm of the a. coronaria dextra (right coronary artery). This wa s confirmed by necropsy which revealed atherosclerosis to be the under lying cause.