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.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Dörner,CA, Sáez,D, Larenas,J, Godoy,AF
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
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