The lesions of heat stroke in deer , and other respiratory evaporative - cooling animals

Authors: Black H, Mitchell PJ
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 57, Issue 1, pp 70, Feb 2009
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Deer, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Syndrome, Temperature, Disease/defect, Pathology, Respiratory system
Article class: Abstract

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Abstract: The lesions of heat stroke in deer and other respiratory evaporative- cooling animals are poorly described in the current veterinary literature. Here, the literature was reviewed and uncontrolled case observations in deer illustrated and described.
The clinical heat stress sign of panting is described in relation to the pathological basis of the gross and microscopic lesions of heat stroke. The hypothesis that severe acute congestion of the entire respiratory tract is a good diagnostic indicator of death from heat stroke, in respiratory evaporative-cooling animals, was presented, with the tracheal mucosa proposed as the prime diagnostic site. The role of micro-thrombus formation and skeletal myonecrosis, and the rapid autolytic changes that occur, require further investigation to clarify post-mortem diagnosis.
The transport of deer, sheep and cattle, and on-farm ergovaline poisonings of these livestock from Neotyphodium spp. endophytes in ryegrass (Lolium perenne) provide case opportunities for thorough diagnostic work-up, with descriptions in peer-reviewed literature. Dogs subjected to confinement in closed cars could provide a companion animal model.

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