Vegetative Endocarditis Associated with Escherichia coli in a Dromedary Camel

Listeria associated mural and valvular endocarditis in an alpaca

“…10 The clinical presentation of this case is consistent with findings in ruminants, some camelids and horses with endocarditis: fever, acute onset of a heart murmur, weight loss, and lameness. 6 Interestingly a retrospective study of 10 alpacas with endocarditis reported that the common clinical presentation was a lack of a heart murmur, sternal recumbency, abdominal distention, poor body condition and hepatomegaly. 11 This case is unique in that a heart murmur was present and there was no evidence of right-sided heart failure.…”

“…11 In the previously reported case of infective endocarditis, the pathogenesis most likely involved bacteremia and a preexisting lesion or hemodynamic abnormality affecting a cardiac valve. 6 Bacterial virulence also plays an important role in endocardial ulceration or colonization. In our case, the speculated cause of the heart lesions is that this animal was used in research projects and had been subject to multiple jugular venipunctures and catheterizations.…”

“…3 Infective endocarditis is typically a sequela of chronic infections and bacteremia in ruminants and other species. 5 Agents associated with bacterial endocarditis reported in camelids include Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (dromedary camels), 6,7 Actinobacillus suis (alpaca), 8 and Clostridium perfringens (llama). 9 While the specific causative bacteria may be different in each case, all are believed to result from recurrent or sustained bacteremia that gained access to the heart valves, either by direct adhesion or hematogenous spread.…”