Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and congenital bicuspid aortic valve in a california sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

Abstract

A 27-year-old captive female California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) died suddenly. Necropsy findings showed severe hemopericardium, the right coronary artery arose from the sinus of the pulmonary trunk, and the aortic valve was composed of two semilunar cusps. Coronary artery branches emerging from the epicardium were dilated and tortuous. Pampiniform vascular plexus formation existed along the adventitia from the coronal sulcus to the pulmonary trunk. This is the first report of multiple congenital cardiac malformations with an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and a bicuspid aortic valve in a marine mammal.