Bartonella henselae mitral valve endocarditis associated with multi‐resistant Enterococcus faecalis bacteraemia in a cat

Abstract

Feline infective endocarditis is a difficult condition to detect and diagnose early, with a poor long‐term prognosis. This case report describes the clinical, laboratory, instrumental and histological findings in a 12‐year‐old cat with Bartonella henselae endocarditis associated with multi‐resistant Enterococcus faecalis bacteraemia. The latter pathogen recently emerged as deadly nosocomial bacteria in humans and is considered a common cause of infective endocarditis. The prolonged corticosteroid therapy administered in the cat probably played a role in the onset of B. henselae endocarditis and E. faecalis intestinal translocation and bacteraemia. Echocardiography remains the tool of choice to suspect infective endocarditis, as it can detect vegetative lesions consistent with this condition. Feline infective endocarditis should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in cats, especially when there are signs of systemic disease, a history of prolonged corticosteroid treatment or concomitant infections.