Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with fatal aortic valve infection from Serratia marcescens
By Perez, Cristina et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2011·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fatal aortic endocarditis associated with community-acquired Serratia marcescens infection in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old Dalmatian was brought to the vet after showing signs of extreme tiredness, fever, and a new heart murmur. Tests revealed that the dog had a serious infection caused by a bacteria called Serratia marcescens, which led to inflammation of the heart valve (endocarditis). Despite receiving prompt treatment with antibiotics, the dog did not improve and sadly passed away just six hours after arriving at the clinic. A post-mortem examination confirmed the infection and damage to the heart.
People also search for: dog lethargy and fever · Dalmatian heart murmur · Serratia marcescens infection in dogs
Abstract
A 12 yr old Dalmatian was referred for evaluation of acute lethargy, fever, neurologic signs, and a recently ausculted heart murmur. Echocardiography in combination with blood cultures resulted in a diagnosis of nonhospital-acquired Serratia marcescens bacteremia and aortic valve endocarditis. Despite early diagnosis and aggressive therapy, the dog failed to respond to antimicrobials and died within 6 hr after admission. Necropsy findings included aortic valve endocarditis, septicemia, and diffuse thromboembolic disease. There was no history of pre-existing underlying disease or immunosuppressive therapy, and the dog had not been hospitalized before referral.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21311076/