Fatal cerebrovascular accident in a captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) with concurrent amdoparvovirus infection

Abstract

We report the pathological and molecular findings in an adult male Himalayan red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) whose death was attributed to parenchymal brain haemorrhage (PBH) of the thalamus. Post-mortem examination revealed severe, acute PBH and intraventricular haemorrhage with major involvement of the thalamus, as well as scattered chronic microinfarctions. Vascular disease in the brain and other organs was suggestive of systemic hypertension. Histological lesions included arteriolar hyalinosis and varying degrees of arteriosclerosis, arterial tunica media hypertrophy and hyperplasia and infiltration of arterial walls by lipid-laden macrophages. Other relevant findings included marked myocardial fibrosis, lymphoplasmacytic tubulointerstitial nephritis, lymphoplasmacytic meningoencephalitis and chronic mitral valve degeneration. The changes in the cerebral vasculature were consistent with hypertensive encephalopathy and a cerebrovascular accident, specifically PBH, which has not been previously reported in this species. Additionally, polymerase chain reaction analysis for red panda amdoparvovirus (RPAV) was positive in the brain and kidneys. Preceded by hypertensive vascular changes and brain microinfarctions, sudden death in this animal likely resulted from fatal PBH with intraventricular haemorrhage. The clinicopathological role of RPAV infection is unknown in this case, although its contribution to the chronic renal disease is considered possible in the context of our current understanding of RPAV-associated pathology.