Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 1
Written by Raluca-Elena TIU, Raluca Ioana RIZAC, Raluca Mihaela TURBATU, Adina Mihaela PÎRVU, Manuella MILITARU, Emilia CIOBOTARU-PÎRVU
The mechanisms of blood coagulation in cases of agonal death are rarely studied in veterinary and human medicine. Agonal thrombi are considered as being formed antemortem. Nevertheless, those are misdiagnosed as cruors because of some gross common features. This preliminary study aims to highlight histopathological differences between agonal thrombi and post-mortem clots. Thirteen cases were included: ten domestic carnivores and three chickens. Agonal death diagnosis was established based on the clinical history and followed by standard necropsy and histopathological special staining techniques (Mallory and Masson Trichrome Stain) to highlight the fibrin deposition and pattern. Histological findings of intraventricular and intra-atrial agonal thrombi were similar in all cases and consist of: presence of Zahn’s lines, layered display of fibrin deposition, intact or altered erythrocytes and mononuclear infiltration. One case displayed similar features in subepicardial veins. Histopathological examination of clots did not reveal the presence of fibrin deposition, nor Zahn’s lines. Considering that in all cases of agonal thrombi the histopathological findings were different from the clots, the agonal thrombus can be associated with agonal death, ruling out the sudden death.
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