DEGENERATIVE ARTERIAL DISEASE OF ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Abstract

A study has been made of the morbid anatomy and histology of aortic lesions found at post‐mortem of seventy‐one animals at the London Zoological Garden, with special reference to the relationship between these lesions and atherosclerosis in Man. In this small series the type of lesion found most commonly in the aorta resembled human atherosclerosis in many respects. Twenty‐two per cent of the animals were so affected; the incidence being higher in birds than mammals. Atherosclerotic lesions were not seen in the few reptiles examined. The literature on the comparative pathology of atherosclerosis is reviewed briefly. It would appear that degenerative arterial disease is increasing in frequency in animals but, unlike in Man, thrombotic complications are uncommon. It is thought that extension of this preliminary survey to include a larger number of animals, together with a detailed study of their age, life history and diet, would be a valuable method of advancing knowledge of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.