Aspectos epidemiológicos e patológicos da endocardite bacteriana em cães: 54 casos (2000-2005) Epidemiological and pathological aspects of bacterial endocarditis in dogs: 54 cases (2000-2005)

Bacterial Endocarditis (BE) is a septic inflammation of the valvular and/or mural endocardium. Because of nonspecific clinical signs, the antemortem diagnosis of BE in dogs is difficult. Based on a 6-year review of the records of the Section of Veterinary Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, this disease was studied retrospectively. From 2000 to 2005, 54 cases of EB were diagnosed in dogs at necropsy corresponding to 1.72% of the total number of dogs necropsied during this period. The median age of the affected animals was 8.2 years. Males were more frequently affected than females (32/54 versus 22/54). The disease was most commonly observed in purebred dogs (37/54), the German Shepherd Dog and the Fila Brasileiro being the two canine breeds most frequently affected. The mitral valve was the most commonly affected valve (50/54). In 42 out of 54 cases, a potential portal of entry of bacteria was identified. Ulcerated/inflamed skin lesions were the most common portal of entry for these microorganisms (31/42). In some cases (10/31), skin wounds were infested by screwworm fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax) larvae (myiases), and there was frank bacterial contamination of these lesions. Betahemolytic streptococci were the most frequent bacterium cultured from blood samples collected at necropsy (6/17). Infarcts in multiple organs and tissues (arterial tromboembolism) were present in 46 dogs (46/54), the kidney and spleen being the most frequently affected (38/46 and 24/46, respectively). The epidemiological data and pathological findings presented in this study would help local veterinary practitioners in the clinical diagnosis of EB.