BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS

DEFINITION

An acute or chronic infection involving one or more of the heart valves and usually giving rise to heart failure spread of infection.

AETIOLOGY

Bacterial endocarditis very probably arises as the result of spread from infections elsewhere in the body.

Bacterial endocarditis is usually a disease of mature cattle.

CLINICAL SIGNS

The signs are those of heart failure, dull, inappetant animals, heart murmur, distension of the neck veins. Occassionally pneumonia or joint infections from the spread of infection. Fever is usually present.

Most cases of endocarditis die or are culled as poor prognosis cases within two weeks of first being seen to be ill. A small number may undergo a long duration illness associated with polyarthritis, intermittent dullness, fever and weight-loss.

DIAGNOSIS

Based upon clinical signs.

TREATMENT

None.