Vegetative endocarditis in equids (1994–2006).
Abstract: Endocarditis is a rare heart condition with variable clinical expressions in equids. Risk factors for this disease are incompletely understood. Objective: Describe risk factors for endocarditis in equids. Methods: One hundred and fifty-three equids admitted to Liège University, 9 diagnosed with endocarditis and 144 free from endocarditis but admitted to the hospital with a differential diagnosis including this disease. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Results: Equids with endocarditis were significantly younger (mean age = 4.84 +/- 5.74 years) than control equids (mean age = 10.8 +/- 7.73 years) (P = .01). No sex or breed predisposition was observed. Animals with hyperthermia (odds ratio [OR] = 24.4; confidence interval [CI] = 1.40-428), synovial distension (OR = 13.4; CI = 3.00-59.8), lameness (OR = 6.52; CI = 1.63-26.1), hyperglobulinemia (OR = 26.4; CI = 3.03-229), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 11.4; CI = 1.34-96.8), hyperfibrinogenemia (OR = 9.81; CI = 1.16-82.7), or leukocytosis (OR = 7.12; CI = 1.40-36.4) presented a significantly higher risk of having endocarditis than control horses. The presence of two of the clinical signs mentioned above significantly increased the probability of a diagnosis of endocarditis (P< or = .05). Conclusions: Age is associated with equine endocarditis. The diagnostic value of certain clinical signs and abnormalities in blood parameters in this disease are described.
Publication Date: 2008-11-13 PubMed ID: 19000251DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0192.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study provides an insight into the risk factors of endocarditis, a rare heart condition, in equids. The researchers found that younger animals and those with certain clinical signs and blood parameters abnormalities, such as hyperthermia, synovial distension, and lameness, had significantly higher risk of having this disease.
Study Objective and Methodology
- The primary objective of this research was to identify the risk factors for endocarditis in equids, a group of animals that includes horses, donkeys, and zebras.
- To accomplish this, a retrospective case-control study was carried out on 153 equids admitted to Liège University’s veterinary hospital. Out of this number, nine were diagnosed with endocarditis while the remaining 144 were chosen as control subjects because they were free from endocarditis but had other diseases that would have similar symptoms.
Results
- The study found that equids diagnosed with endocarditis were significantly younger in age (average age of approximately five years) compared to the non-affected group (average age around 11 years).
- It was established there were no predispositions based on sex or breed. That is the condition can affect any equid regardless of its sex or breed.
- Several clinical signs and abnormal blood parameters were identified as significant risk factors for equine endocarditis. These include hyperthermia (higher body temperature), synovial distension (swelling of the joint), lameness (difficulty in movement), hyperglobulinemia (high level of globulins in the blood), hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in the blood), hyperfibrinogenemia (increased fibrinogen in the blood), and leukocytosis (increase in the number of white blood cells).
- The presence of two or more of these clinical signs significantly increased the probability of a diagnosis of endocarditis.
Conclusions
- The study concluded by identifying age as a significant factor associated with equine endocarditis. Hence, younger equids are more susceptible to this disease.
- The research also found that certain clinical signs and abnormalities in blood parameters added value in diagnosing endocarditis in equids.
Cite This Article
APA
Porter SR, Saegerman C, van Galen G, Sandersen C, Delguste C, Guyot H, Amory H.
(2008).
Vegetative endocarditis in equids (1994–2006).
J Vet Intern Med, 22(6), 1411-1416.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0192.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Teaching Hospital, Department of Companion Animals and Equids Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / pathology
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / veterinary
- Equidae
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 2 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.
- Guidi EE, Thomas A, Cadoré JL, Smith AB. Citrobacter freundii induced endocarditis in a yearling colt. Can Vet J 2016 Jul;57(7):767-70.
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