Premium
Brain abscess and bacterial endocarditis in a Kerry Blue Terrier with a history of immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia
Author(s) -
Bach Jonathan F.,
Mahony Orla M.,
Tidwell Amy S.,
Rush John E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2007.00245.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sequela , endocarditis , brain abscess , abscess , lesion , surgery , pathology
Objective: To describe a case of multifocal brain abscessation as a sequela from bacterial endocarditis in a dog with a 4‐month history of immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) and treatment with immunosuppressive therapies. Case summary: An 8‐year‐old spayed female Kerry Blue Terrier weighing 13 kg was presented for evaluation of progressive neurologic deficits after a 4‐month history of immunosuppressive treatment of ITP. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed lesions consistent with multiple central nervous system abscesses and rupture of an abscess into an adjacent ventricle. Staphylococcus species were cultured from blood and cerebral spinal fluid and a vegetative lesion of the mitral valve was identified by echocardiographic examination. Intensive care, intravenous antibiotics, and supportive therapy led to resolution of clinical signs. Resolution of the vegetative lesion on the mitral valve was documented by serial echocardiographic examination. The dog was clinically normal 11 months after treatment. New or unique information provided: Bacterial endocarditis can be an occult infection and difficult to diagnose. Emboli from endocarditis are common, but those that affect the spleen and kidneys are often clinically silent in dogs. This case represents the first report of multifocal brain abscessation (documented with magnetic resonance imaging) as a sequela from bacterial endocarditis.