抄録
1. As far as the rank in the incidence of sub-acute bacterial endocarditis in man and in various domestic animals is concerned, a significant dependence on the fibrinogen content of the blood could be observed. 2. The spectrum of causative agents of s.b.e. shows extremely significant differences in species. Whereas today in man the streptococci of the viridans group with 54% occur more frequently than staphylococci (24%), in cattle, Corynebact. pyogenes with 43% is superior to the streptococci of the viridans group (21%). Eighty-four per cent of s.b.e. in swine are caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, whereas in chicken, under specific environmental conditions, enterococci with 60% appear to be superior to staphylococci (23%). Considerable local and temporal displacements should, however, always be taken into consideration. 3. Whereas in man and in most species the mitral valve in approximately 80% of cases is most frequently affected with bacterial endocarditis, the aortic valves (66%) in the horse and the tricuspid valve (77%) in cattle are predominantly affected. In animals, the influence of inborn cardiac abnormalities on incidence and site of s.b.e. is of no significance. Even the type of causative organism, in contrast to the conditions in man and swine, has no influence on the localisation of endocarditis in cattle in which unknown hemodynamic factors may be of significance.
