Echocardiographic Findings of a Donkey (Equus asinus) Jenny with Suspected Mitral Valve Dysplasia

Abstract

Reports of ante-mortem diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases in donkeys (Equus asinus) are rare. This case report describes the echocardiographic findings of suspected mitral valve dysplasia in a 3-year-old Nevisian donkey jenny presented for evaluation of a grade III/VI left-sided systolic murmur. Pertinent findings on transthoracic echocardiography included double mitral regurgitant jets and a bridge of tissue between the septal and mural mitral leaflets. Based upon the mild degree of cardiac remodeling and absence of clinical signs, therapeutic intervention was deemed unnecessary, and the jenny was returned to the teaching herd. Repeat echocardiography 10 months later revealed no significant progression of mitral regurgitation or cardiac remodeling. This case reinforces the utility of auscultation and echocardiography in detecting structural heart disease in donkeys.