Infectious epiphysitis and valvular endocarditis in a red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Pathology
• Infectious Diseases in Wildlife
• Cervid Health

Background:

• Bacterial infections can cause significant musculoskeletal and systemic disease in young animals.
• Lameness and swelling in multiple limbs of young deer warrant thorough investigation.
• Osteomyelitis and epiphysitis are serious bone conditions that can lead to severe morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document a case of severe bacterial osteomyelitis and epiphysitis in a red deer.
• To identify the causative agents and associated pathological findings.
• To contribute to the understanding of infectious diseases affecting young cervids.

Main Methods:

• Clinical examination of a 10-month-old male red deer with severe lameness.
• Radiographic imaging of affected limbs to assess bone and joint structures.
• Post-mortem examination including gross pathology and microbiological analysis of lesions.

Main Results:

• Radiographs revealed epiphysitis and osteomyelitis in the distal metacarpal and metatarsal bones of multiple limbs.
• Pus from lesions contained Corynebacterium pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Valvular endocarditis of the right atrioventricular valve was identified during post-mortem examination.

Conclusions:

• Corynebacterium pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were identified as causative agents of severe osteomyelitis and epiphysitis in this red deer.
• The infection likely led to systemic complications, including endocarditis.
• This case underscores the potential for severe bacterial infections to impact young cervids, causing significant lameness and potentially fatal systemic disease.