Bacterial endocarditis in horses: ten cases (1984–1995)

Abstract

Summary A retrospective study of 10 horses with bacterial endocarditis was performed in order to describe the echocardiography findings in horses with bacterial endocarditis, in conjunction with clinical signs and post mortem findings, and to evaluate the usefulness of echocardiography in the diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis and the formulation of a prognosis. Echocardiographic and post mortem examinations were performed in 7 horses. Post mortem examination alone was performed in 2 horses and echocardiographic examination alone performed in one horse. No breed or sex predilection was obvious. Mean age ± s.d. was 2.12 ± 3.32 years. Predominant clinical signs and abnormal clinical pathology data were fever, cardiac murmur, tachycardia, tachypnoea, hyperfibrinogenaemia, anaemia and leucocytosis. Pasteurella/Actinobacillus spp. and Streptococcus spp. were most commonly cultured. Vegetative lesions were found most frequently on the mitral valve and secondarily on the aortic valve. The location and number of lesions identified with echocardiography in the horses accurately described the lesions found on post mortem examination. Medical treatment was attempted in 50% of the horses. Serial echocardiography was used to assess the response to treatment in 2 horses. All horses with vegetative lesions of the mitral and/or aortic valve died or were subjected to euthanasia due to the severity of their cardiac disease. Both horses with tricuspid valve endocarditis were cured of the infection; one horse returned to racing after antimicrobial therapy and the other was subjected to euthanasia due to severe laminitis.

Vegetative Endocarditis in Equids (1994–2006)

“…17 No breed predisposition was obvious in a study of 10 cases. 17 The purpose of this study was to determine the physical data, the clinical signs, the associations of the clinical signs, and the abnormal blood parameters, which should lead the practitioner to consider a potential diagnosis of infective endocarditis.…”

“…4,5,7 An early diagnosis is thus essential to succeed in treating a patient. 4,5,7 A predisposition to infective endocarditis in young 2,7,12,17 , male 1,2,7,12 or both equids has been suggested by previous studies but contradictions between studies remain. 17 No breed predisposition was obvious in a study of 10 cases.…”

“…4,5,7 A predisposition to infective endocarditis in young 2,7,12,17 , male 1,2,7,12 or both equids has been suggested by previous studies but contradictions between studies remain. 17 No breed predisposition was obvious in a study of 10 cases. 17 The purpose of this study was to determine the physical data, the clinical signs, the associations of the clinical signs, and the abnormal blood parameters, which should lead the practitioner to consider a potential diagnosis of infective endocarditis.…”

“…1,2,[4][5][6][7][8]10,11,18 Resolution of clinical signs, improvement of echocardiographic findings, and reduction in leukocytosis and hyperfibrinogenemia should be used to evaluate the response and determine the duration of therapy. 4,17 The prognosis is poor 1,[4][5][6]8 in all cases of infective endocarditis. Valvular insufficiency caused by vegetative endocarditis can remain despite reduction of the size and sterilization of the lesion.…”

Acute heart insufficiency due to aortic rupture

“…Die Herzklappe kann dabei durch Fibrineinlagerung und Thrombenbildung morphologisch und funktionell wesentlich geschwächt werden (De Castro et al 1997, Fröhlich et al 2004. Bei der akuten und der häufigeren subakuten Endokarditis sind die anatomischen Veränderungen jedoch so groß, dass in der Regel ultrasonografisch ausgeprägte Vegetationen erkennbar sind (Edwards 1991, Stadler et al 1995, Maxson und Reef 1997, Marr 2004). …”