Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

Bovine bacterial endocarditis

BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS

• One of the clinical signs of bacterial endocarditis is a murmur with the point of maximal intensity (PMI) and timing dependant on the valve or valves affected. Other signs include tachycardia, recurrent fever, anorexia weight loss or signs of congestive heart failure. Disseminated sepsis such as lameness, coughing pneumonia, hematuria or pyuria may be observed.
• Mastitis and decreased milk production are common. Lesions may be noted as a thickening of the valve or they may have a more ragged appearance. These may develop slowly and will be asymptomatic initially.
• Cardiac output is increased initially, but the increased end-diastolic volume will eventually lead to compensatory dilation and elevation of end-diastolic pressure and decreased compliance.
• With mitral valve regurgitation pulmonary venous hypertension results and with tricuspid valve regurgitation right atrial or central venous pressure will increase. The tricuspid valve in cattle is most commonly affected.
• Prognosis is guarded to grave even when treated aggressively and frequently results in sudden death. Lymphosarcoma of the heart has a grave prognosis and is usually associated with death within a few months.