Pseudomonas spp. associated vegetative endocarditis in two horses.
Abstract: This paper describes the case histories of two Thoroughbred horses, a 2-year-old colt in training and a 7-year-old broodmare, that were presented with histories of weight loss, exercise intolerance, intermittent fever, limb oedema and anaemia. Vegetative endocarditis of the mitral and tricuspid valves was diagnosed in the colt by means of echocardiography. Pseudomonas sp. endocarditis of the mitral valve was diagnosed in the mare using echocardiography and bacterial culture. The colt had secondary congestive heart failure and was euthanased on humane grounds. Pseudomonas cepacia was isolated from the vegetative lesions following the post mortem examination. The mare was sent home and treated with gentamicin at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg intra-muscularly twice daily for ten days. Her condition improved and she returned to stud.
Publication Date: 1995-09-01 PubMed ID: 8596190
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Summary
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The research article focuses on two cases of Pseudomonas spp. associated vegetative endocarditis in two horses with different symptoms. The study diagnosis involved echocardiography and bacterial culture, leading to various therapeutic interventions.
Case Studies
- This study involved two Thoroughbred horses with different symptoms and medical backgrounds. One was a 7-year-old broodmare and the other a 2-year-old colt under training. Both the horses were presented with health issues like weight loss, exercise intolerance, intermittent fever, limb oedema, and anaemia.
Diagnosis
- For both horses, vegetative endocarditis, which is an inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart, was diagnosed using an echocardiography, an ultrasound of the heart that produces images to check how the heart and its blood vessels function. The diagnosis revealed that the colt had the condition on its mitral and tricuspid valves while the mare was diagnosed with Pseudomonas endocarditis on its mitral valve.
- A bacterial culture confirmed that Pseudomonas, a type of bacteria, caused the endocarditis in the mare. The bacteria type is typically found in the environment and can cause disease in animals and humans.
Treatment and Outcome
- The colt contracted secondary congestive heart failure due to the endocarditis condition and was euthanased based on humane grounds. A post-mortem analysis found Pseudomonas cepacia, a specific member of the Pseudomonas genus, in the vegetative lesions, confirming it as the likely causative agent.
- The mare, on the other hand, responded positively to treatment. It was administered 3.3 mg/kg of gentamicin, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, administered intra-muscularly twice daily for ten days. Following the dosage, the mare’s health improved, and it returned to stud.
Implications of the Study
- The study has implications for understanding heart diseases in horses, particularly vegetative endocarditis, and its related treatments. The findings shed light on the possible causative agents behind the heart condition and how different bodies react to the disease.
- The study also underscored the importance of accurate diagnosis for proper treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Travers CW, van den Berg JS.
(1995).
Pseudomonas spp. associated vegetative endocarditis in two horses.
J S Afr Vet Assoc, 66(3), 172-176.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Medicine and Equine Research Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Republic of South Africa.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / veterinary
- Gentamicins / therapeutic use
- Heart Failure / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Prognosis
- Pseudomonas / isolation & purification
- Pseudomonas Infections / diagnosis
- Pseudomonas Infections / drug therapy
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Henderson B, Diaz M, Martins C, Kenney D, Baird JD, Arroyo LG. Valvular endocarditis in the horse: 20 cases (1993-2020). Can Vet J 2020 Dec;61(12):1290-1294.
- Wong JK, Chambers LC, Elsmo EJ, Jenkins TL, Howerth EW, Sánchez S, Sakamoto K. Cellulitis caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex associated with contaminated chlorhexidine 2% scrub in five domestic cats. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018 Sep;30(5):763-769.
- Berriatua E, Ziluaga I, Miguel-Virto C, Uribarren P, Juste R, Laevens S, Vandamme P, Govan JR. Outbreak of subclinical mastitis in a flock of dairy sheep associated with Burkholderia cepacia complex infection. J Clin Microbiol 2001 Mar;39(3):990-4.
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