Vegetative valvular endocarditis due to Enterococcus faecalis in a broiler chicken

A carcass of 6 weeks old Vencobb chicken which had the history of loss of body weight since a few days was presented. On necropsy, irregular growth was noticed in the left atrioventricular valvular endocardium of the heart. Histopathological examination revealed septic thrombus which was attached with the basal valvular endocardium of mitral valve along with inflammatory changes. Bacterial emboli were present in various visceral organs like lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Microbiological examination of heart blood swab revealed Enterococcus faecalis. Based on gross, microscopic and cultural examination the case was diagnosed as vegetative valvular endocarditis due to Enterococcus faecalis.