October 2021

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Animal: Pig (Sus scrofa)

Organ: Heart – Left atrioventricular valve

Necropsy findings/diagnosis: Severe, valvular, vegetative, verrucous endocarditis of the mitralvalve.

Pathogenesis: The pathogenesis of bacterial endocarditis  is complex. The formation of infectious endocarditis lesions involves the disruption of the endothelial layer for colonization, adherence of bacteria to the endothelial surface and survival of the bacteria with propagation of the thrombus. Endocarditis in the left side of the heart can result in systemic embolism. In bovids, often the right atrioventricular valve is involved. Common pathogens are Streptococcus sp., Trueperella pyogenes (cattle), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (pig) and Actinobacillus equuli (horses).

Contributors: Han Versnaeyen and Nermin Caliskan, Animal Health lab Flanders (DGZ Vlaanderen), BELGIUM.