Proliferative, myxomatous change was identified in the cardiac valves (i.e. valvular endocardiosis) with extension into some cardiac walls (i.e. mural endocardiosis) of five tetras (four neon tetras [Paracheirodon innesi] and one rummynose tetra [Hemigrammus rhodostomus]). Review of cardiac sections from tetras (family Characiformes) submitted to two diagnostic laboratories revealed a prevalence of endocardiosis in tetras of 4.3% and 5.7%, respectively. In four cases, concurrent disease that could be a primary cause of death was not identified, and endocardiosis was considered the primary cause of death; in the fifth case, egg binding was present concurrently. This retrospective case series suggests that endocardiosis is a significant concern in fish of the family Characiformes.
Keywords: characiformes; fish; heart; myxomatous change.
Published by Elsevier Ltd.