Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Endocarditis in six horses.
- Journal:
- Veterinary pathology
- Year:
- 1985
- Authors:
- Buergelt, C D et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study of six horses, ranging from three months to fourteen years old, all were found to have endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart valves, during their post-mortem examinations. Two of these horses had been diagnosed with valvular endocarditis before they died, but tests for bacteria in their blood came back negative. Five horses showed damage to one or more heart valves, with the mitral valve being affected in four of them and the aortic valve in two. Additionally, four horses had damage to their kidneys and heart muscle due to lack of blood flow. Bacteria were found in the heart valves of two horses after death, and a type of yeast called Candida parapsilosis was identified in a third horse.
Abstract
Six horses (five males) aged three months to fourteen years had endocarditis at necropsy. Two of the horses had a clinical diagnosis of valvular endocarditis with negative blood cultures. Single or complex valvular involvement was present in five horses. One horse had non-infectious thrombi associated only with the chordae tendineae. Mitral valves were affected in four horses, and aortic semilunar valves were affected in two. Infarcts had occurred in the kidneys and the myocardium of four horses. Bacteria were isolated postmortem from the valvular vegetations of two horses; Candida parapsilosis was isolated and demonstrated morphologically in a third horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3929454/