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Impact of fungal species cultured on outcome in horses with fungal keratitis.
Abstract: To determine the significance of Aspergillus and Fusarium spp., as identified by culture, on clinical outcome in equine keratomycosis. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 66 horses (66 eyes) evaluated at the NCSU-VH diagnosed with keratomycosis from which Aspergillus or Fusarium spp. were cultured. Horses were classified into those who improved with medical management alone or those who required surgical intervention to improve. Horses who underwent surgery were divided into globe-sparing procedures or enucleation. Effects of bacterial co-infection, previous topical steroid or antifungal use, and time of year on fungal genus and outcome were evaluated. Results: Aspergillus spp. was cultured from 41 eyes (63%), while 24 eyes (37%) cultured Fusarium spp. One horse cultured both species and was not included in further evaluation. From the horses that cultured Aspergillus spp., 28 eyes (68%) required surgical intervention to control the infection: 21 (75%) of these eyes maintained globe integrity, while 7 eyes (25%) were enucleated. Of those horses with Fusarium spp., 14 eyes (58%) required surgical intervention: 11 (79%) of these eyes maintained globe integrity, while 3 eyes (21%) were enucleated. Genus of fungus cultured was not significantly associated with the need for surgical intervention nor was it significantly associated with the necessity of globe-sparing surgery versus enucleation. Additionally, bacterial co-infection, previous steroidal or antifungal use, and time of year did not affect outcome or type of fungal species cultured. Conclusions: Equine keratomycosis from Fusarium spp. compared to keratomycosis from Aspergillus spp. is not associated with a different clinical outcome.
© 2016 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2016-04-07 PubMed ID: 27061354DOI: 10.1111/vop.12381Google 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.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of two different fungal species (Aspergillus and Fusarium spp.) on the clinical outcome of horses diagnosed with keratomycosis, a fungal infection of the eye. The study concludes that there is no significant difference in the clinical outcomes based on the specific type of fungus cultured.
Research Methodology
- This study took into account a total of 66 horses (66 eyes), all diagnosed with keratomycosis.
- Aspergillus or Fusarium spp. were cultured from these horses.
- Subsequently, the horses were categorized based on their response to treatment; some improved with just medical treatment, while others required surgical intervention.
- The horses that required surgery were further segmented into those who retained their globe (eye) after surgery and those who had to have it removed (enucleated).
- The researchers also considered the influence of bacterial co-infection, previous use of topical steroid or antifungal, and the time of year on the outcome.
Research Findings
- Out of all the horses, Aspergillus spp. was found in 41 eyes (63%) and Fusarium spp. in 24 eyes (37%).
- One horse showed cultures of both species and was excluded from further evaluation.
- In horses with Aspergillus, 28 eyes (68%) required surgical intervention; however, 21 of these (75%) were able to maintain globe integrity, while 7 had to be enucleated.
- Among horses with Fusarium, 14 eyes required surgery, but 11 of them (79%) retained globe integrity, while 3 had to be enucleated.
- Neither the type of fungus cultured nor the necessity for surgical intervention had a significant association.
- Moreover, bacterial co-infection, previous use of topical steroid or antifungal, and time of year did not change the outcome or the type of cultured fungal species.
Conclusions
- This study ended with the conclusion that there was no significant link between the clinical outcome of equine keratomycosis and whether the disease was caused by Fusarium spp. or Aspergillus spp.
- Meaning, the likelihood of requiring surgery, preserving the eye, or having to remove it, was not significantly affected by the type of fungal species causing the infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Sherman AB, Clode AB, Gilger BC.
(2016).
Impact of fungal species cultured on outcome in horses with fungal keratitis.
Vet Ophthalmol, 20(2), 140-146.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12381 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1052 William Moore Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1052 William Moore Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1052 William Moore Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27607, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
- Aspergillosis / drug therapy
- Aspergillosis / veterinary
- Aspergillus
- Eye Infections, Bacterial / drug therapy
- Eye Infections, Bacterial / veterinary
- Eye Infections, Fungal / drug therapy
- Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology
- Eye Infections, Fungal / veterinary
- Female
- Fusariosis / drug therapy
- Fusariosis / veterinary
- Fusarium
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Keratitis / drug therapy
- Keratitis / microbiology
- Keratitis / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Steroids / therapeutic use
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Walsh ML, Meason-Smith C, Arnold C, Suchodolski JS, Scott EM. Evaluation of the ocular surface mycobiota in clinically normal horses. PLoS One 2021;16(2):e0246537.
- 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).
- Flores MM, Del Piero F, Habecker PL, Langohr IM. A retrospective histologic study of 140 cases of clinically significant equine ocular disorders. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 May;32(3):382-388.
- 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.
- Cullen M, Jacob ME, Cornish V, VanderSchel IQ, Cotter HVT, Cubeta MA, Carbone I, Gilger BC. Multi-locus DNA sequence analysis, antifungal agent susceptibility, and fungal keratitis outcome in horses from Southeastern United States. PLoS One 2019;14(3):e0214214.
- Elad D. Therapy of Non-Dermatophytic Mycoses in Animals. J Fungi (Basel) 2018 Oct 30;4(4).
- Elad D, Segal E. Diagnostic Aspects of Veterinary and Human Aspergillosis. Front Microbiol 2018;9:1303.
- Hardefeldt L, Thomas K, Page S, Norris J, Browning G, El Hage C, Stewart A, Gilkerson J, Muscatello G, Verwilghen D, van Galen G, Bauquier J, Cuming R, Reynolds B, Whittaker C, Wilkes E, Clulow J, Burden C, Begg L. Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):781-889.
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