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Equine veterinary journal2019; 51(6); 749-755; doi: 10.1111/evj.13101

Equine ulcerative keratitis with furrow: A review of the outcomes of 72 cases from 1987 to 2015.

Abstract: Ulcerative keratitis with peripheral furrow formation is a poorly-described condition which has been associated with a grave prognosis due to rapid necrosis of the cornea. Objective: To describe the infectious aetiologies associated with furrow-forming ulcerative keratitis, its overall clinical course and the efficacy of medical and surgical intervention in horses. Methods: Retrospective clinical case series. Methods: Medical records of 72 horses which presented with furrow-forming ulcerative keratitis at the University of Florida between 1987 and 2015 were reviewed. Results: Seventy-two horses (72 eyes) with furrow-forming ulcerative keratitis were treated at the University of Florida between 1987 and 2015. Of these, a definitive aetiologic diagnosis was available for 37 eyes. Ten of 37 eyes (27%) were diagnosed with fungal keratitis based on cytology of corneal scraping, culture, histopathology and/or fungal PCR. Fourteen of 37 eyes (38%) were diagnosed with a mixed fungal and bacterial keratitis. Thirteen of 37 eyes (35%) were diagnosed with bacterial keratitis. Overall, 26 of 72 total eyes were treated with medical therapy alone (36%). Forty-six of 72 eyes were treated medically and surgically (64%). Of the 26 eyes which received medical therapy, 20 healed with a positive visual outcome (77%) and 6 eyes were non-visual (23%). Of the 46 eyes which received surgical intervention, 40 healed with a positive visual outcome (87%), while six eyes were non-visual (13%). Altogether, 60 of 72 eyes healed with a positive visual outcome following medical or surgical treatment of furrow-forming ulcerative keratitis (83%). Twelve of 72 eyes failed treatment (17%), with six eyes requiring enucleation and six globes becoming phthisical after treatment. Conclusions: Inconsistencies in available medical record data due to the large span of time (1987-2015) are inherent in this retrospective study, along with gradual evolution of corneal surgical techniques and medical therapies over the decades. Conclusions: Furrow-forming ulcerative keratitis was associated with a positive visual outcome in 83% of horses treated at the University of Florida between the years 1987 and 2015. Furrow formation may be associated with either fungal or bacterial infection.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-04-05 PubMed ID: 30883892DOI: 10.1111/evj.13101Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study reviews the outcomes of furrow-forming ulcerative keratitis, a relatively unknown eye disease, in 72 horses from 1987 to 2015, examining the infectious causes, clinical courses, and treatment efficacy. It found that 83% of cases had a positive visual outlook after medical or surgical treatment.

Research Background

  • The research is about ulcerative keratitis with an accompanying peripheral furrow. The condition is relatively unknown but often results in quick cornea necrosis which can severely affect a patient’s prognosis.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The main aim of this research is to understand the infectious causes of this ailment, observe its general clinical progression, and evaluate the efficiency of medical and surgical intervention in horses affected by this condition.
  • The researchers retrospectively examined medical records of 72 horses diagnosed with this disease that were treated at the University of Florida from 1987-2015 to gather data for this study.

Findings and Results

  • Out of the total, a definite cause was confirmed for this disease in 37 eyes. Cytology of corneal scrapings, cultures, histopathology, and/or fungal PCR showed that 27% (ten out of 37) were due to fungal keratitis.
  • Mixed fungal and bacterial keratitis were diagnosed in 38% (fourteen out of 37) and bacterial keratitis in 35% (thirteen out of 37).
  • Regarding treatment, 26 of the 72 were treated with only medication (36%), while 64% (46 of 72) underwent medical and surgical treatments.
  • Of the ones treated medically, 77% (twenty out of 26) healed with a positive visual outcome, while 23% (six out of 26) were left non-visual. Surgical treatment led to 87% (40 out of 46) becoming visually positive again, while 13% (six out of 46) were left non-visual.
  • Of the total cases, 83% (60 of 72) healed with a positive visual outcome after medical or surgical treatment, and 17% (12 of 72) did not respond to treatment, leading to six eyes requiring removal and the other six becoming diminutive.

Conclusions

  • The study acknowledged that inconsistencies in data due to the extended study period and evolution of corneal surgical techniques and therapies over time may pose potential challenges.
  • Nevertheless, the study concluded that keratitis with furrow formation, often associated with either fungal or bacterial infections, showed a positive visual outcome in majority (83%) of horses treated between 1987 and 2015 at the University of Florida.

Cite This Article

APA
Berkowski WM, Craft WF, Whitley RD, Brooks DE, Plummer CE. (2019). Equine ulcerative keratitis with furrow: A review of the outcomes of 72 cases from 1987 to 2015. Equine Vet J, 51(6), 749-755. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13101

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 6
Pages: 749-755

Researcher Affiliations

Berkowski, W M
  • Comparative Ophthalmology, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
  • Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Craft, W F
  • Department of Anatomic Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Whitley, R D
  • Comparative Ophthalmology, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
  • Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Brooks, D E
  • Comparative Ophthalmology, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Plummer, C E
  • Comparative Ophthalmology, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
  • Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Corneal Ulcer / drug therapy
  • Corneal Ulcer / pathology
  • Corneal Ulcer / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome

References

This article includes 26 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Stolle LM, Oltmanns H, Meißner J, Heun F, Schieder AK, Wolff HT, Ohnesorge B, Busse C. Polyhexanide, Povidone-Iodine, and Hypochlorous Acid Show High In Vitro Antimicrobial Efficacy Against Pathogens Commonly Associated With Equine Infectious Keratitis. Vet Ophthalmol 2026 Jan;29(1):e70141.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.70141pubmed: 41552904google scholar: lookup
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