A novel tetralogy of congenital cardiac deformities in a calf

Congenital cardiac abnormalities in cattle are encountered by veterinarians on an infrequent basis but remain an important differential diagnosis for weak neonatal calves. This report describes the presentation, clinical signs and post-mortem findings of a novel combination of cardiac abnormalities in an Aberdeen Angus cross heifer calf that developed cardiopulmonary signs immediately after birth. The heart defect was characterised by a hypoplastic left ventricle, dextroaorta, atrial septal defect and right ventricular hypertrophy, consistent with double outlet right ventricle (DORV), and represents a novel tetralogy of congenital cardiac deformities in cattle. Similar cardiac abnormalities in cattle and human beings are discussed.