Farm Animal Cardiac Diseases

Front 1

What is the aetiology of bacterial endocarditis?

Back 1

Occurs secondary to bacteraemia.

Its common in farm animal. The bacteraemia may come from liver abscesses, traumatic reticulitis, mastitis, joint ill, etc.

Less common in horses where the site of sepsis is often not identified. Though may occur from septic jugular thrombophlebitis.

Front 2

Which valves are affected by endocarditis in farm animals?

Back 2

The right sided valves.

Front 3

Which valves are affected by endocarditis in horses?

Back 3

Mostly the left sided valves. Possibly right sided if its due to jugular thrombophlebitis.

Front 4

How do you diagnose bacterial endocarditis?

Back 4

Clinical signs: Pyrexia, CHF, murmurs, tachycardia, tachypnoea.

Lab tests: Blood culture (do 3 times because false negatives are common), leukocytosis, hyperfibrinogenaemia.

Front 5

What is the treatment and prognosis for bacterial endocarditis?

Back 5

Tx: Broad spectrum abx

Prognosis: Guarded. There may be permanent structural damage to the valves and septic emboli may break off and spread to distant sites.

Front 6

What are five causes of pericarditis?

Back 6

1. Septic pericarditis - traumatic pericarditis is the most common form in cows
2. Idiopathic - Horses
3. Primary bacterial cause - pigs
4. Neoplasia - uncommon
5. Viral - uncommon

Front 7

What clinical signs would you see in a cow with traumatic pericarditis?

Back 7

Early CSs: Fever, anorexia, pain (abducted elbows), reluctance to move, depression.

Later CSs: Right sided heart failure, venous congestion, oedema, raised jugular pulse

Front 8

How do you diagnose and treat traumatic pericarditis in cows?

Back 8

Dx: Pericardiocentesis

Tx: Cull or surgery to remove the wire, marsupialize the pericardial sac, debride and lavage.

Front 9

What is the aetiology of equine pericardial effusion?

Back 9

Most commonly its idiopathic

Less commonly its infectious.

Front 10

How do you diagnose pericardial effusion in horses?

Back 10

Echo to show fluid in the pericardial sac.

Cytology of the pericardial fluid

Front 11

What is the treatment and prognosis for pericardial effusion in horses?

Back 11

Tx: Repeated pericardial drainage with lavage +/- abx.

Px: Good if treatment is early and aggressive.

Front 12

Which two bacteria cause pericarditis in pigs?

Back 12

Haemophilus parasuis (Glassers Dz) and Strep suis type 2.

Front 13

What is cor pulmonale?

Back 13

Its a cardiac disease characterised by hypertrophy and dilation of the right ventricle secondary to pulmonary disease or hypertenstion.

It is recognized in cows but NOT HORSES

Front 14

What diseases may cause cor pulmonale?

Back 14

Severe chronic pneumonia, altitude disease

Front 15

What is the pathophysiology of cor pulmonale?

Back 15

Alveolar hypoxia due to pulmonary disease or high altitudes leads to pulmonary vasoconstriction. This causes pulmonary hypertension which leads to RCHF.

Front 16

What is the treatment and prognosis for cor pulmonale?

Back 16

Tx: None. Selectively breed cows to resist altitude disease.

Px: Poor because the cause is usually irreversible lung damage.

Front 17

What is the pathogenesis of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH)?

Back 17

During strenuous exercise there is pulmonary haemorrhage from the caudo-dorsal lung lobes. Mechanical pressures generated in the capillaries during exercise exceed their stress failure point and they burst. The capillaries are susceptible because they are thin walled. The vascular pressures are also very high in the capillaries adding to the problem. The haemorrhage causes local inflammation which further exacerbates the problem.

Front 18

What is the significance of EIPH?

Back 18

None. EIPH does not affect a horses performance and most horses undergo some bleeding after a race.

Just R/O other causes such as cardiac disease or respiratory disease.