Aortic regurgitation associated with chronic bacterial endocarditis in one adult thoroughbred gelding
This article describes chronic bacterial endocarditis as the cause of aortic regurgitation in a 25-year-old Thoroughbred used for horseback riding. The horse presented signs of depression, exercise intolerance, and weight loss. A pandiastolic murmur was identified, but no other clinical signs of bacterial endocarditis were identified. Haematological, serum biochemical, and urine analyses did not show any particular abnormalities. Electrocardiography showed a physiological dysrhythmia that was not pertinent to this case. Echocardiography revealed left ventricle (LV) dilatation and a nodule in the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve associated with regurgitation. Based on the prevalence of aortic valve pathology in geriatric horses, a noninfectious condition with a myxomatous noninflammatory infiltrate was suspected; therefore, no special treatment was prescribed due to the absence of heart failure. Several months later, the animal was euthanised after experiencing a femur fracture. At necropsy, the horse showed an eccentric left ventricle hypertrophy and 2 nodules in the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve. Histological examination revealed the presence of bacteria, which led to the diagnosis of chronic bacterial endocarditis.
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile
2014
|
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0301-732X2014000200012 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|