Bilateral uveitis in an equine: Case report

Abstract

Among the main causes of damages to equideoculture are the various diseases, among them ocular diseases, especially keratitis and uveitis. These have an inflammatory origin and are associated with the main cases of blindness in horses. Uveitis is by definition the inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye. The inflammation may involve iris and ciliary body (anterior uveitis) or the choroid and retina (posterior uveitis). In horses is more common to the occurrence of inflammation in all structures (panuveitis). The objective of this study was to report the clinical case of bilateral uveitis in an equine at the Clínica de Equídeos of Centro de Desenvolvimento da Pecuária (CDP) at Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), located in the city of Santo Amaro-BA. In the present case, a Mangalarga Marchador equine had bilateral blindness for approximately 90 days, without previous history of trauma or other conditions in the eyeball. In ophthalmic examination, the animal had bilateral epiphora and chemosis, vitreous opacity with presence of central superficial corneal ulcer and bilateral corneal edema. Reduction of pupillary reflex was also observed, but still present. Eyelid reflex present and threat reflex absent bilaterally, besides Schirmer lachrymal test with a result higher than 35 mm/min and bilateral positive fluorescein test. The animal presented negative serology for Leptospira spp. Due to the history and clinical signs the animal was diagnosed with primary uveitis. After treatment for 30 consecutive days, including the use of antimicrobials and systemic anti-inflammatories associated with the use of topical treatment with antibiotic and lubricant eyelids, the animal presented a marked evolution, with an evident improvement in visual acuity, which was identified after physical and ophthalmologic examination.