Sudden unexpected death in a captive meerkat (Suricata suricatta): Macroscopic and microscopic examination

Abstract

A case of sudden death in a 10-year-old meerkat (Suricata suricatta) with a short episode of neurological sings was presented for post-mortem examination. There were multiple cardiovascular lesions associated whit atheromatous plaques within the heart and in multiple arteries and veins. Within the brain an extraxial, intraventricular, cholesterol granuloma compressed the parenchyma. Additional incidental findings consisted of pulmonary adenomas and splenic nodular hyperplasia. The possible causes for atherosclerosis and cholesterol granuloma development are discussed. This is the first case report of systemic atherosclerosis and cholesterol granuloma in a captive meerkat.