Bacterial pericarditis associated with a hepatic abscess in a cat

An 8-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presented collapsed and was subsequently diagnosed with a pericardial effusion based on ultrasound imaging. A laboratory analysis of pericardial fluid revealed a septic pericardial effusion and further diagnostics, including abdominal ultrasound and fluid analysis, revealed a concurrent hepatic abscess. Bacterial isolation and identification from both septic foci revealed Escherichia coli. Therapeutic measures included a combination of medical and surgical intervention, the latter including a pericardiectomy, cholecystectomy, liver lobectomy and splenectomy.

Septic pericarditis is one of the least reported causes of feline pericardial effusion. This case report describes bacterial pericarditis in a cat, suspected to be derived from a hepatic abscess via haematological spread. In this case, a favourable response was achieved with both surgical and medical management.