Case 22 — Text

Text from “Small Animal Cardiovascular Medicine”

Infective Endocarditis

Introduction

Infective endocarditis (IE) is inflammation of the endocardial surface of the heart due to invasion by an infectious agent. Almost all recognized IE involves valve tissue, with the vast majority of agents being bacterial. When bacteria colonize a heart valve, they generally produce proliferative lesions (vegetations) and/or destroy valve tissue. Vegetations usually cause improper valve coaptation resulting in regurgitation. IE is a rare lesion, diagnosed in approximately 5 cases per year at a busy referral hospital.

Incidence

IE primarily affects the mitral and aortic valves in dogs and cats. In 45 canine patients from UC Davis (1986-1996): 22 had aortic valve lesions, 16 had mitral valve lesions, 1 had both valves involved, and 1 had tricuspid valve endocarditis. IE is a disease of medium-sized to large purebred dogs.

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