PSEUDOMONAS SPP ASSOCIATED VEGETATIVE ENDOCARDITIS IN 2 HORSES

This paper describes the case histories of two thoroughbred horses, a 2-year-old colt in training and a 7-year-old broodmare, that were pres ented with histories of weight loss, exercise intolerance, intermitten t fever, limb oedema and anaemia. Vegetative endocarditis of the mitra l and tricuspid valves was diagnosed in the colt by means of echocardi ography. Pseudomonas sp. endocarditis of the mitral valve was diagnose d in the mare using echocardiography and bacterial culture. The colt h ad secondary congestive heart failure and was euthanased on human grou nds. Pseudomonas cepacia was isolated from the vegetative lesions foll owing the post mortem examination. The mare was sent home and treated with gentamicin at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg intra-muscularly twice daily for ten days. Her condition improved and she returned to stud.