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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Am Vet Med Assoc / Association of leptospiral seroreactivity and breed with uve...
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association1995; 207(10); 1327-1331;

Association of leptospiral seroreactivity and breed with uveitis and blindness in horses: 372 cases (1986-1993).

Abstract: Recurrent uveitis, a leading cause of blindness in horses, often develops as a sequela to systemic leptospirosis. Over a 7-year period, 63 of 112 (56%) horses with uveitis were seropositive for Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona, but only 23 of 260 (9%) horses without uveitis were seropositive. Odds-ratio analysis revealed that seropositive horses were 13.2 times more likely to have uveitis than were seronegative horses. Of the 63 seropositive horses with uveitis, 59% developed blindness, compared with only 24% in the 49 seronegative horses with uveitis that lost vision in 1 or both eyes during the same period. Odds-ratio analysis revealed that seropositive horses with uveitis were 4.4 times more likely to lose vision than were seronegative horses with uveitis. Of the 112 horses with uveitis, 28 (25%) were Appaloosas, compared with only 10 of the 260 (4%) horses without uveitis (odds ratio, 8.3). In addition, 19 of the 28 (68%) Appaloosas with uveitis developed blindness, compared with only 30 of the 84 (36%) non-Appaloosas with uveitis that lost vision in 1 or both eyes (odds ratio, 3.8). This field study therefore confirmed a strong positive relationship between uveitis and leptospiral seroreactivity in horses. Furthermore, the data suggested that seropositive horses with uveitis were at increased risk of losing vision, compared with that in seronegative horses with uveitis, and that Appaloosas were at increased risk of developing uveitis and associated blindness, compared with that in non-Appaloosas.
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Publication Date: 1995-11-15 PubMed ID: 7591929
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article examines the correlation between leptospiral seroreactivity, breed of horses, and the development of uveitis and blindness. The study found a strong link between a positive reaction for Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona, uveitis, and related blindness, especially among Appaloosa horses.

Study Design and Findings

  • The researchers conducted a 7-year study on 372 horses, with and without uveitis, a leading cause of blindness in horses commonly subsequent to systemic leptospirosis.
  • 56% of the horses with uveitis had positive seroreaction for Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona, while only 9% of the horses without uveitis were seropositive.
  • Using odds-ratio analysis, the researchers found that seropositive horses were 13.2 times more likely to have uveitis versus seronegative horses.
  • About 59% of seropositive horses with uveitis developed blindness, contrasted to only 24% of seronegative horses with uveitis that lost vision.
  • Consequently, seropositive horses with uveitis were 4.4 times more likely to lose vision than seronegative horses with the same condition.

Breed-specific Findings

  • The study also assessed the correlation of uveitis with specific horse breeds, particularly the Appaloosas.
  • Out of the total horses with uveitis, 25% were Appaloosas, whereas only 4% of the horses without uveitis were Appaloosas.
  • This resulted in an odds ratio of 8.3, implying that the Appaloosa breed was at a significantly higher risk of contracting uveitis.
  • Further, about 68% of Appaloosas with uveitis developed blindness, compared to just 36% non-Appaloosas with uveitis.
  • This gave an odds ratio of 3.8, indicating that Appaloosas with uveitis were more prone to blindness than non-Appaloosas with the same condition.

Implications of the Study

  • The study confirmed a strong positive association between uveitis and leptospiral seroreactivity in horses.
  • It revealed that seropositive horses with uveitis had a higher risk of losing vision compared to seronegative horses with uveitis.
  • The breed-specific findings suggest that Appaloosas are at a higher risk of developing uveitis and associated blindness compared to non-Appaloosas.

Cite This Article

APA
Dwyer AE, Crockett RS, Kalsow CM. (1995). Association of leptospiral seroreactivity and breed with uveitis and blindness in horses: 372 cases (1986-1993). J Am Vet Med Assoc, 207(10), 1327-1331.

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 207
Issue: 10
Pages: 1327-1331

Researcher Affiliations

Dwyer, A E
  • Genesee Valley Equine Clinic, Scottsville, NY 14546, USA.
Crockett, R S
    Kalsow, C M

      MeSH Terms

      • Age Distribution
      • Agglutination Tests / veterinary
      • Animals
      • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
      • Blindness / etiology
      • Blindness / genetics
      • Blindness / veterinary
      • Breeding
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / etiology
      • Horse Diseases / genetics
      • Horses
      • Leptospira interrogans / immunology
      • Leptospirosis / complications
      • Leptospirosis / veterinary
      • Male
      • Ophthalmoscopy / veterinary
      • Retrospective Studies
      • Sex Distribution
      • Uveitis / etiology
      • Uveitis / genetics
      • Uveitis / veterinary

      Grant Funding

      • EY 06866 / NEI NIH HHS

      Citations

      This article has been cited 16 times.
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        doi: 10.1111/vop.70132pubmed: 41518147google scholar: lookup
      2. Jost HE, Henriksen ML, Hawley J, Lappin MR. Evaluation of Leptospira species as a cause of endogenous uveitis in cats: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg 2026 Feb;28(2):1098612X251409537.
        doi: 10.1177/1098612X251409537pubmed: 41378760google scholar: lookup
      3. Kingsley NB, Sandmeyer L, Dwyer A, Langefeld CD, McMullen RJ Jr, McCue M, Lassaline M, Bellone RR. A genome-wide investigation of insidious uveitis in Appaloosa horses. BMC Genomics 2025 Oct 9;26(1):904.
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      4. Gerras J, Young K, Roberts D, Waldman G, Salmon JH, Gilger BC. Uveitis and blindness in a closed herd of Equidae following leptospiral infection. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1504990.
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        doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10020387pubmed: 35208842google scholar: lookup
      8. Geiger T, Gerhards H, Wollanke B. Detection of Anti-LipL32 Antibodies in Serum Samples from Horses with Chronic Intraocular Infection with Leptospira spp. Pathogens 2021 Oct 14;10(10).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens10101325pubmed: 34684272google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9091915pubmed: 34576809google scholar: lookup
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      11. Sandmeyer LS, Bauer BS, Feng CX, Grahn BH. Equine recurrent uveitis in western Canadian prairie provinces: A retrospective study (2002-2015). Can Vet J 2017 Jul;58(7):717-722.
        pubmed: 28698690
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        doi: 10.1111/evj.12683pubmed: 28321895google scholar: lookup
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      14. Lucchesi PM, Parma AE, Arroyo GH. Serovar distribution of a DNA sequence involved in the antigenic relationship between Leptospira and equine cornea. BMC Microbiol 2002;2:3.
        doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-2-3pubmed: 11869455google scholar: lookup
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