title: Case report: sequelae of traumatic reticuloperitonitis in a Friesian dairy cow.
abstract: METHODS
  A 10-year-old Friesian dairy cow presented with a history of weight loss, decreased milk production and fluid splashing on auscultation of the heart. Previous antibiotic therapy included oxytetracycline, marbofloxacin and penicillin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following a failure to respond to treatment, prescribed by the referring veterinarian for respiratory infection and septic arthritis, the cow was referred to Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with suspected pericarditis. Clinical examination identified a predominantly left sided holodiastolic heart murmur with tachycardia and cording of the jugular veins. Cardiac ultrasound showed an enlarged aortic valve with turbulent blood flow and regurgitation, consistent with bacterial endocarditis. Blood culture demonstrated Paenibacillus spp. Due to the severity of the clinical signs and poor prognosis, euthanasia was performed and a post-mortem examination carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  Traumatic reticuloperitonitis with abscessation of the reticulum and rumen wall, which progressed to a bacteraemia and presumptively caused endocarditis, endometritis, septic arthritis, and renal and myocardial infarcts due to emboli from the endocarditis lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New Zealand dairy cattle are at risk of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and due to varying presentations diagnosis can be complicated. Subsequent bacteraemia is common and in this case the novel bacterial species Paenibacillus was implicated as a potential pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Tulley
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary