Malignant hypertension and retinopathy in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Abstract

Background: A 34-year-old western lowland gorilla presented with peracute blindness.

Methods: Clinical evaluation, diagnostic imaging, laboratory analyses, blood pressure measurements, and necropsy were performed.

Results: The clinical and postmortem findings supported malignant hypertension.

Conclusions: We describe a case of naturally occurring hypertensive encephalopathy and retinopathy in a gorilla.

Keywords: arteriosclerosis; hypertensive encephalopathy; necrotizing arteriolitis; retinal detachment.