Leptospiral antibody prevalence and surgical treatment outcome in horses with Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) in Switzerland.
Abstract: To evaluate leptospiral antibody prevalence in 65 horses with ERU and compare outcome in 36 surgically treated eyes (2010-2015). Methods: Retrospective data analysis of horses with ERU (n = 65). C-value calculation with microagglutination assay titer (MAT) results for Leptospira spp. Evaluation of follow-up data after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV, n = 21 eyes) and suprachoroidal cyclosporine device implantation (SCDI, n = 15 eyes). Differences between groups were statistically analyzed using Fishers exact test, significance set at P < .05. Results: Positive leptospiral titers were found in 28/65 blood, 31/65 aqueous humor (AH), and 19/20 vitreal (post-PPV) samples. The most common intraocular serovars were Leptospira interrogans grippotyphosa, pomona, and bratislava. Intraocular antibody production was suspected in samples of 22 horses (c-values > 1). Mean follow-up of surgical cases was 3.8 years (PPV) and 3.4 years (SCDI). PPV was performed in 21 eyes with positive, SCDI in 15 eyes with negative leptospiral test results. Uveitis recurred less often after PPV (2/21) compared to SCDI (6/15, P = .04). Retinal detachment occurred after PPV only (5/21, SCDI 0/15, P = .06), whereas only SCDI-treated eyes were enucleated (PPV 0/21, SCDI 3/15, P = .06). Blindness or visual impairment was equally likely to occur in both treatment groups after surgery (PPV 7/21, SCDI 7/15, P = .5). Conclusions: Leptospiral antibody prevalence is high in horses with ERU in Switzerland. Recurrence of uveitis is uncommon following PPV in the present study; an increased risk of retinal detachment exists. Enucleation is more often warranted in horses after SCDI in this study due to a higher uveitis recurrence.
© 2020 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2020-04-30 PubMed ID: 32352624DOI: 10.1111/vop.12767Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examined the prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in horses with Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) in Switzerland and compared the outcomes of two surgical treatments on the horses. Results showed a high prevalence of leptospiral antibodies in horses with ERU and revealed differences in the outcomes of the two surgical treatments, with an unusual recurrence of uveitis following a pars plana vitrectomy.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted a retrospective data analysis of 65 horses with ERU.
- They calculated the C-value with microagglutination assay titer (MAT) results to assess the prevalence of Leptospira spp.
- They evaluated follow-up data after two different types of surgeries: pars plana vitrectomy (PPV, executed in 21 eyes) and suprachoroidal cyclosporine device implantation (SCDI, performed on 15 eyes).
- The researchers then employed Fisher’s exact test to statistically analyze the differences between the groups, with significance set at P < .05.
Research Findings
- Positive leptospiral titers were found in 28 of 65 blood samples, 31 of 65 aqueous humor samples, and 19 of 20 vitreous samples.
- The most common intraocular serovars were Leptospira interrogans grippotyphosa, pomona, and bratislava.
- Intraocular antibody production was suspected in the samples of 22 horses.
- Follow-up on surgical cases showed that uveitis recurred less often after PPV compared to SCDI.
- There were instances of retinal detachment and enucleation after the PPV and SCDI procedures respectively while the likelihood of blindness or visual impairment was equal for both treatment groups.
Conclusions from the Study
- The prevalence of Leptospiral antibodies is high in horses with ERU in Switzerland.
- The recurrence of uveitis is less common following PPV, but there is a heightened risk of retinal detachment.
- On the other hand, enucleation is more often needed after SCDI due to a higher recurrence of uveitis.
Cite This Article
APA
Voelter K, Vial Z, Pot SA, Spiess BM.
(2020).
Leptospiral antibody prevalence and surgical treatment outcome in horses with Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) in Switzerland.
Vet Ophthalmol, 23(4), 648-658.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12767 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Ophthalmology, Equine Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Veterinary Ophthalmology, Equine Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Veterinary Ophthalmology, Equine Clinic, Vetsuisse Faculty Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Private Practice, Wolfe Island, Ontario, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
- Eye Infections, Bacterial / surgery
- Eye Infections, Bacterial / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Leptospira / immunology
- Leptospirosis / surgery
- Leptospirosis / veterinary
- Male
- Prevalence
- Recurrence
- Switzerland
- Uveitis / surgery
- Uveitis / veterinary
References
This article includes 54 references
Citations
This article has been cited 9 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.
- Söth R, Hoffmann ALC, Deeg CA. Enhanced ROS Production and Mitochondrial Metabolic Shifts in CD4(+) T Cells of an Autoimmune Uveitis Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024 Oct 26;25(21).
- Kalinovskiy A, Leser S, Ehrle A, Reese S, Jones S, Gerhards H. Phacoemulsification Combined with Pars Plana Vitrectomy: Outcome in Horses with Acquired Cataracts Associated with Uveitis. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 16;14(8).
- 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).
- 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).
- Ackermann K, Kenngott R, Settles M, Gerhards H, Maierl J, Wollanke B. In Vivo Biofilm Formation of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in the Vitreous Humor of Horses with Recurrent Uveitis. Microorganisms 2021 Sep 9;9(9).
- Barfüßer C, Wiedemann C, Hoffmann ALC, Hirmer S, Deeg CA. Altered Metabolic Phenotype of Immune Cells in a Spontaneous Autoimmune Uveitis Model. Front Immunol 2021;12:601619.
- Wasiński B, Paschalis-Trela K, Trela J, Czopowicz M, Kita J, Żychska M, Cywińska A, Markowska-Daniel I, Carter C, Witkowski L. Serological Survey of Leptospira Infection in Arabian Horses in Poland. Pathogens 2021 Jun 1;10(6).
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