Aorto-left atrial fistula secondary to aortic infective endocarditis in a dog with a bicuspid aortic valve

A J Carrillo; P Rivera; R T Walker; L L Farina; E J Benjamin

doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2024.02.009

Aorto-left atrial fistula secondary to aortic infective endocarditis in a dog with a bicuspid aortic valve

J Vet Cardiol. 2024 Mar 2:53:13-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2024.02.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

A J Carrillo¹, P Rivera¹, R T Walker², L L Farina², E J Benjamin³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave, PO Box 100116, Gainesville, FL 32610-0116, USA.
² Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave, PO Box 100123, Gainesville, FL 32610-0123, USA.
³ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Ave, PO Box 100116, Gainesville, FL 32610-0116, USA. Electronic address: eduardo.benjamin@ufl.edu.

PMID: 38565003
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvc.2024.02.009

Abstract

An 11-year-old male neutered English Bulldog was presented for evaluation of thrombocytopenia, acute onset of ataxia, and vomiting. A new murmur was auscultated on physical examination. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination revealed a bicuspid aortic valve, vegetative lesions on the aortic valve, and continuous shunting from the aortic root to the left atrium through an aorta to left atrial fistula. The dog was euthanized due to guarded prognosis and critical condition. Pathological examination confirmed presence of bicuspid aortic valve, aorto-left atrial fistula, and aortic infective endocarditis. Antemortem blood culture revealed two unusual organisms: Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Fusobacterium mortiferum.

Keywords: Achromobacter xylosoxidans; Aorto-cavitary fistula; Bacterial endocarditis; Canine; Fusobacterium mortiferum.

Publication types

Case Reports