Infective endocarditis in 13 cats

Clinical presentation, cardiovascular findings, etiology, and outcome of myocarditis in dogs: 64 cases with presumptive antemortem diagnosis (26 confirmed postmortem) and 137 cases with postmortem diagnosis only (2004–2017)

“…A set of criteria to diagnose myocarditis using only non-invasive testing, as has been proposed in humans [37], would greatly assist clinicians in increasing or decreasing antemortem index of suspicion for myocarditis. An analogous set of diagnostic criteria, the modified Duke criteria, exists for infective endocarditis [61] and has been adapted for both dogs [38] and cats [62]. The modified Duke criteria include a distinct set of 'major' and 'minor' criteria, and a definitive or possible diagnosis of endocarditis requires a certain number of major or minor criteria in combination.…”

Salmonella typhimurium Endocarditis and Myocarditis in a Cat

“…The predisposing factors of feline infective endocarditis are endothelial damage due to congenital valvular diseases, intravenous catheterization, immunosuppression, and infection with virulent microorganisms. The main causative agents are Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Streptococcus sp., and Bartonella henselae [1, 3]. Salmonella typhimurium has never been described before in feline patients.…”

“…Susceptibility to disease is highest in immunosuppressed cats, young animals, pregnant, and those with underlying immunosuppressive illness such as retroviral infection (FIV or FeLV), neoplasia, diabetes mellitus or immune suppressive drug therapy [4–6]. The clinical symptoms and signs of feline infective endocarditis are the consequence of four simultaneously active mechanisms: (1) the valve damage (valvular stenosis or valvular regurgitation) with subsequent hemodynamic consequences of pressure or volume overload; (2) the severity of infection; (3) thromboembolism; and (4) immunological alterations [1–3]. The consequences of the infection are related to the toxicity of the microorganisms and to the intensity of their propagation to the various organs; the embolic manifestations, depending on the friability of the valve vegetations, particularly affect some anatomical regions (e.g., the brain, limbs, kidneys, and spleen); the immunological phenomena are the consequence of the stimulation of the immune system by pathological agents, with formation of immune complexes in the joints, in the uvea, and in the renal glomeruli inducing respectively to arthritis, uveitis, and glomerulonephritis [1–3].…”

“…Feline infective endocarditis should be suspected in patients with fever and no obvious infectious focus, particularly if a heart murmur is present. Respiratory distress and locomotor abnormalities (lameness or paralysis) are common presentations in feline patients [1, 3]. The echocardiogram, the blood cultures, and the PCR for Bartonella are considered the main diagnostic investigations to reach the diagnosis of feline infective endocarditis [1–3].…”

“…Respiratory distress and locomotor abnormalities (lameness or paralysis) are common presentations in feline patients [1, 3]. The echocardiogram, the blood cultures, and the PCR for Bartonella are considered the main diagnostic investigations to reach the diagnosis of feline infective endocarditis [1–3]. The cornerstone of the therapy consists of a targeted antibiotic therapy, in the management of heart disease and in the prevention of embolization, but unfortunately the prognosis is grave and often reserved [1–3].…”