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Detection of intraocular Leptospira spp. by real-time polymerase chain reaction in horses with recurrent uveitis in Belgium.
Abstract: Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) has been associated with Leptospira spp. infection. No information exists concerning the prevalence of Leptospira-associated ERU in Belgium and about the sensitivity of detection of Leptospira in different ocular media. Objective: To establish the prevalence of intraocular Leptospira spp. in ERU-affected and healthy eyes of horses examined at the Equine Clinic of the University of Liège by real-time PCR and to compare the results of the aqueous and vitreous humour of the same eye. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Sixty-six eyes from 59 client-owned horses with a diagnosis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU-group) were studied from May 2015 to December 2017. Fifty healthy eyes from 28 euthanised horses for unrelated reasons examined during the same period were included in the control group. Intraocular fluids (aqueous and/or vitreous humours) from ERU-affected eyes were sampled and analysed by real-time PCR for Leptospira spp. Aqueous and vitreous humours from the control group were processed in the same way. Results: Both groups were comparable regarding age, sex, eye sampled (OS/OD), humours sampled (aqueous/vitreous humour) but not regarding breeds, with an over-representation of Warmbloods and Appaloosas in the ERU-group. The prevalence of Leptospira spp. was 30.3% (20/66 eyes) in the ERU-group. Leptospira spp. DNA was identified in 11 aqueous and 17 vitreous humours with eight horses testing positive in both humours, nine horses testing positive for vitreous humour alone and third horses for aqueous humour alone. The phi-correlation between aqueous and vitreous humour Leptospira-PCR results is 0.47 suggesting a low association. All the control eyes were negative. Conclusions: The diagnostic method selected for this study (lipL32 qPCR) did not allow identification of the serovars. Conclusions: Leptospirosis is a potential cause of ERU in Belgium. Testing both intraocular media is advised whenever possible. The Summary is available in Spanish - see Supporting Information.
© 2018 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2018-09-22 PubMed ID: 30144314DOI: 10.1111/evj.13012Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper determined the prevalence of Leptospira spp. in horses suffering from Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) in Belgium using real-time PCR. It was found that Leptospirosis is a probable cause of ERU in the region and it recommends that both intraocular fluids be tested when possible.
Objective and Methodology of Research
- The primary aim of the study is to identify the prevalence of intraocular Leptospira spp. in both healthy and ERU affected horses, utilizing real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies. It also aimed to compare results from two forms of ocular fluid – the aqueous and vitreous humour.
- A total of 66 eyes from 59 horses diagnosed with ERU were studied from May 2015 to December 2017. For the control group, 50 healthy eyes sampled from 28 horses euthanised for unrelated reasons were also studied.
- Both the aqueous and/or vitreous humour from the eyes of the horses in both groups were analyzed via real-time PCR for the presence of Leptospira spp.
Study Findings
- Although both groups were comparable in age, sex, and type of eye and humour tested, there was a noted over-representation of Warmbloods and Appaloosas breeds in the ERU infested group.
- Leptospira spp. was detected in 30.3% (20 out of 66 eyes) of the ERU group. Specifically, the DNA of Leptospira spp. was found in 11 aqueous and 17 vitreous samples.
- There was a low association (phi-correlation of 0.47) between Leptospira-PCR results in aqueous and vitreous humours, suggesting that testing both ocular fluids could be beneficial.
- All eyes from the control group were negative for Leptospira spp.
Conclusions of Research
- The real-time PCR method (lipL32 qPCR) chosen for the study didn’t allow for the identification of Leptospirosis serovars. Serovars are distinct variations within a species of bacteria.
- Despite this, the research demonstrated that Leptospirosis is a potential cause of ERU in Belgium.
- The research recommends testing both intraocular fluids (aqueous and vitreous humours) where feasible to enhance detection efficacy.
Cite This Article
APA
Sauvage AC, Monclin SJ, Elansary M, Hansen P, Grauwels MF.
(2018).
Detection of intraocular Leptospira spp. by real-time polymerase chain reaction in horses with recurrent uveitis in Belgium.
Equine Vet J, 51(3), 299-303.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13012 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Companion and Equine Animals, Ophthalmology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Companion and Equine Animals, Ophthalmology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Laboratory Synlab Veterinary, Liège, Belgium.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Companion and Equine Animals, Ophthalmology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Belgium / epidemiology
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Leptospira / isolation & purification
- Leptospirosis / epidemiology
- Leptospirosis / microbiology
- Leptospirosis / veterinary
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Uveitis / diagnosis
- Uveitis / epidemiology
- Uveitis / microbiology
- Uveitis / veterinary
Grant Funding
- Clinique Veterinaire Universitaire
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Kirmse L, Thieme K, Doherr MG, Eule JC. Evaluation of Laboratory Techniques for the Diagnosis of Leptospira-Associated Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) With Focus on the Goldmann-Witmer Coefficient. Vet Ophthalmol 2026 Jan;29(1):e70132.
- Strutzberg-Minder K, Ullerich A, Dohmann K, Boehmer J, Goris M. Comparison of Two Leptospira Type Strains of Serovar Grippotyphosa in Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) Diagnostics for the Detection of Infections with Leptospires in Horses, Dogs and Pigs. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 29;9(9).
- Geiger T, Gerhards H, Bjelica B, Mackenthun E, Wollanke B. Analysis of 1840 Equine Intraocular Fluid Samples for the Presence of Anti-Leptospira Antibodies and Leptospiral DNA and the Correlation to Ophthalmologic Findings in Terms of Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU)-A Retrospective Study. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 21;9(8).
- Wollanke B, Gerhards H, Ackermann K. Infectious Uveitis in Horses and New Insights in Its Leptospiral Biofilm-Related Pathogenesis. Microorganisms 2022 Feb 7;10(2).
- Cequier A, Sanz C, Rodellar C, Barrachina L. The Usefulness of Mesenchymal Stem Cells beyond the Musculoskeletal System in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;11(4).
- Vera E, Taddei S, Cavirani S, Schiavi J, Angelone M, Cabassi CS, Schiano E, Quintavalla F. Leptospira Seroprevalence in Bardigiano Horses in Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 20;10(1).
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