Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fibrinous pericarditis in the horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1982
- Authors:
- Dill, S G et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Over a period of 18 months, four adult horses were brought to a veterinary college in New York because they were showing signs of congestive heart failure, which means their hearts weren't pumping blood effectively. They had symptoms like muffled heart sounds, a fast heartbeat, swollen neck veins, and fluid buildup in their bodies. Despite treatment with antibiotics, diuretics (medications to help remove excess fluid), and anti-inflammatory drugs, none of the horses improved, and all either died or were put to sleep for humane reasons. When the horses were examined after death, they found a lot of fluid in the sac around the heart and thick layers of fibrin (a protein involved in blood clotting) on the heart's surface. In three of the cases, no bacteria or viruses could be found in the fluid, but in one case, a specific bacteria called Actinobacillus equuli was identified.
Abstract
During a period of 18 months, between July 1978 and January 1980, 4 adult horses were referred to the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine with evidence of congestive heart failure. Characteristic clinical abnormalities included marked muffling of heart sounds, tachycardia, jugular vein distention, and peripheral edema. Treatment with antibiotics, diuretics, and anti-inflammatory drugs was unsuccessful, and all four died or were euthanatized and necropsied. At necropsy, there was marked distention of the pericardial sac with fluid, and thick layers of fibrin were deposited uniformly over the epicardium. In 3 cases, attempts to isolate bacteria and viruses from pericardial fluid were unsuccessful; in the 4th case, Actinobacillus equuli was isolated on culture of the pericardial fluid.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7056675/