Equine deep stromal abscesses (51 cases – 2004-2009)–Part 1: the clinical aspects with attention to the duration of the corneal disease, treatment history, clinical appearance, and microbiology results.
Abstract: To study the equine deep stromal abscesses (DSA) with focus on the duration of the corneal disease, medical treatment, season of presentation, clinical appearance, and the degree of corneal vascularization. Methods: Equine DSA diagnosed, biopsied, and surgically treated at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center (UFVMC) from 2004 to 2009 were identified. The medical record, clinical photographic images, and microbiology results for each case were evaluated. Frequency and prevalence calculation as well as qualitative data analysis was performed for clinical and microbiological data. Results: Fifty-one equine DSA were included in the study. Spring (March, April, May; 33.4%) and winter (December, January, February; 31.4%) were the most common seasons for DSA presentation. The 51 cases were divided into four categories of focal opacity from their clinical appearance: focal yellow (45.2%), focal white (23.5%), diffuse yellow/white (23.5%), and focal pink (7.8%). 5.9% of the DSA (n = 3) were culture positive for fungal growth, whereas 17.6% were positive for bacterial growth (n = 9). No association between short-/long-term systemically administered NSAID treatment and the corneal vascular response to the corneal lesion could be appreciated. Conclusions: Equine DSA most often present in the spring and winter in the subtropical environment of the state of Florida (USA). The clinical appearance may have a connection with the etiology and pathogenesis of the equine DSA. No connection between short- or long-term systemically administered NSAID and the degree of corneal vascularization of the DSA was noted.
© 2013 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2013-10-17 PubMed ID: 24131726DOI: 10.1111/vop.12103Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article examines equine deep stromal abscesses (DSA), focusing on a variety of clinical aspects such as the disease duration, treatment, clinical appearance, and microbiology results. The study also looks into the correlation between systemically administered NSAID treatment and corneal vascular response of the condition.
Objective and Methods
- The objective of the study was to research deep stromal abscesses (DSA) in equines, with a focus on the corneal disease’s duration, medical treatment, season of presentation, clinical appearance, and degree of corneal vascularization.
- The researchers identified, diagnosed, and surgically treated the DSAs at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center over a span of five years (2004-2009).
- They evaluated the medical records, clinical photographic images, and microbiology results for each case. Clinical and microbiological data were analyzed via frequency and prevalence calculation as well as qualitative evaluation.
Results
- A total of fifty-one equine DSAs were included in the study. Out of these, spring and winter (particularly in Florida’s subtropical environment) were found to be the most frequent seasons for DSA presentation, accounting for about 65% of all the cases.
- From the clinical appearance, the cases were categorized based on focal opacity into four distinct categories: focal yellow, focal white, diffuse yellow/white, and focal pink.
- Microbiological examination showed that 3 of the DSAs (about 6%) were culture-positive for fungal growth. Meanwhile, bacterial growth was identified in 9 of the DSAs, making up nearly 18% of the cases.
- The study observed no significant correlation between the use of Systemically Administered Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) – either short-term or long-term – and the corneal vascular response to the DSA.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that DSA most commonly occurs in equines during spring and winter in Florida (USA).
- The clinical appearance of DSA potentially has a link with the condition’s etiology and pathogenesis.
- No evidence was found to suggest a connection between the administration of systemic NSAID – short-term or long-term – and the degree of corneal vascularization in the DSA.
Cite This Article
APA
de Linde Henriksen M, Andersen PH, Thomsen PD, Plummer CE, Mangan B, Heegaard S, Toft N, Brooks DE.
(2013).
Equine deep stromal abscesses (51 cases – 2004-2009)–Part 1: the clinical aspects with attention to the duration of the corneal disease, treatment history, clinical appearance, and microbiology results.
Vet Ophthalmol, 17 Suppl 1, 6-13.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12103 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; Departments of Large and Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Comparative Ophthalmology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abscess / diagnosis
- Abscess / microbiology
- Abscess / pathology
- Abscess / surgery
- Abscess / veterinary
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
- Corneal Diseases / diagnosis
- Corneal Diseases / microbiology
- Corneal Diseases / pathology
- Corneal Diseases / therapy
- Corneal Diseases / veterinary
- Corneal Stroma / microbiology
- Corneal Stroma / pathology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Seasons
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Preston JF, Mustikka MP, Priestnall SL, Dunkel B, Fischer MC. Clinical features and outcomes of horses presenting with presumed equine immune mediated keratitis to two veterinary hospitals in the United Kingdom and Finland: 94 cases (2009-2021). Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):598-610.
- Tahoun A, Elnafarawy HK, Elmahallawy EK, Abdelhady A, Rizk AM, El-Sharkawy H, Youssef MA, El-Khodery S, Ibrahim HMM. Epidemiological and Molecular Investigation of Ocular Fungal Infection in Equine from Egypt. Vet Sci 2020 Sep 8;7(3).
- Mustikka MP, Grönthal TSC, Pietilä EM. Equine infectious keratitis in Finland: Associated microbial isolates and susceptibility profiles. Vet Ophthalmol 2020 Jan;23(1):148-159.
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