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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2015; 57; 76; doi: 10.1186/s13028-015-0167-2

Listeria monocytogenes associated kerato-conjunctivitis in four horses in Norway.

Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes has been reported to cause various infectious diseases in both humans and animals. More rarely, ocular infections have been reported. To our knowledge, only two cases of Listeria keratitis have been described in horses. We report kerato-conjunctivitis in four Norwegian horses associated with L. monocytogenes. Clinically, all cases were presented with recurrent unilateral kerato-conjunctivitis. L. monocytogenes bacteria were isolated from swab samples from all cases, and cytology carried out in 3 cases was indicative of L. monocytogenes infection. The present report describes the first known cases in which L. monocytogenes has been isolated from keratitic lesions in horses in Norway. A potential risk factor may be feeding of silage or haylage, but other sources of infection cannot be ruled out. The phenotypic features including antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype of the isolates are described. Laboratory detection of L. monocytogenes demands extra caution since only low numbers of bacteria were detected in the eye-swabs, probably due to the low volume of sample material and the intracellular niche of the bacterium. A general poor response to treatment in all these cases indicates that clinicians should pay extra attention to intensity and duration of treatment if L. monocytogenes is identified in connection with equine kerato-conjunctivitis.
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Publication Date: 2015-11-09 PubMed ID: 26552393PubMed Central: PMC4638104DOI: 10.1186/s13028-015-0167-2Google 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.

This research discusses the discovery of Listeria monocytogenes, a type of bacteria, causing kerato-conjunctivitis, an eye infection, in four horses from Norway, marking the first known instances of this in the region. The findings reveal challenges in treatment and identification of this bacteria.

Overview of the Study

  • The study reports on four cases of equine kerato-conjunctivitis, an eye infection in horses, caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in Norway. This marks the first known instances of Listeria being the cause of this kind of infection in horses in the region.
  • The horses all had recurrent unilateral kerato-conjunctivitis and the bacteria was isolated from swabs taken from their eyes.
  • Cytology, the study of cells, was carried out in three of the cases and also indicated a Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Potential Risk Factors and Infection Sources

  • Although the precise source of the horses’ infections is unclear, the researchers suggest that a potential risk factor could be feeding the horses silage or haylage.
  • However, the researchers emphasized that other sources of infection couldn’t be ruled out, possibly including other feed or environmental contact points.

Challenges in Detection and Treatment

  • Detecting the bacteria in the lab proved challenging due to its low numbers in the eye-swab samples. This is thought to be due to the small sample material volume and the bacterium’s intracellular nature.
  • The treatment for this infection proved to be generally ineffective, making it important for veterinary clinicians to consider the intensity and duration of treatment when dealing with equine kerato-conjunctivitis possibly linked to Listeria monocytogenes.
  • The isolates of the bacteria presented certain phenotypic features, including serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility. These features are described in the study, providing a better understanding of the bacteria’s characteristics for future reference and treatment plans.

Importance of the Findings

  • The research’s findings are significant, as it’s the first recorded instance of this bacteria causing this type of infection in horses in Norway. This can increase the awareness in veterinary medicine about potential causes of equine kerato-conjunctivitis.
  • Additionally, the challenges faced in detecting and treating the bacteria present avenues for further research, with the aim of standardising a treatment protocol for this type of infection in the future.

Cite This Article

APA
Revold T, Abayneh T, Brun-Hansen H, Kleppe SL, Ropstad EO, Hellings RA, Sørum H. (2015). Listeria monocytogenes associated kerato-conjunctivitis in four horses in Norway. Acta Vet Scand, 57, 76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-015-0167-2

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 57
Pages: 76
PII: 76

Researcher Affiliations

Revold, Tobias
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science), Ullevålsveien 72, Postbox 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway. tobias.revold@nmbu.no.
Abayneh, Takele
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science), Ullevålsveien 72, Postbox 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway. takeletefera99@gmail.com.
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia. takeletefera99@gmail.com.
Brun-Hansen, Hege
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science), Ullevålsveien 72, Postbox 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway. hege.brun-hansen@nmbu.no.
Kleppe, Signe L
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science), Ullevålsveien 72, Postbox 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway. signelundkleppe@gmail.com.
  • Aktiv Dyreklinikk, 1484, Hakadal, Norway. signelundkleppe@gmail.com.
Ropstad, Ernst-Otto
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science), Ullevålsveien 72, Postbox 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway. ernst.ropstad@nmbu.no.
Hellings, Robert A
  • Rikstotoklinikken Bjerke, Postboks 194, Økern, 0510, Oslo, Norway. fred.hellings@rikstoto.no.
Sørum, Henning
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (previously Norwegian School of Veterinary Science), Ullevålsveien 72, Postbox 8146 Dep, 0033, Oslo, Norway. henning.sorum@nmbu.no.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Keratoconjunctivitis, Infectious / microbiology
  • Listeria monocytogenes / genetics
  • Listeria monocytogenes / isolation & purification
  • Listeriosis / diagnosis
  • Listeriosis / drug therapy
  • Listeriosis / microbiology
  • Listeriosis / veterinary
  • Male
  • Norway

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Phelps S, Chong D, McKenzie E, Kiupel M, Gorman E. Rapport de cas Mononuclear pleocytosis and meningoencephalitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in an adult horse. Can Vet J 2023 Apr;64(4):363-366.
    pubmed: 37008639
  2. Elbert JA, Rissi DR. Systemic Listeria monocytogenes infection and concurrent pleural mesothelioma in a cat. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021 Jan;33(1):120-123.
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  3. Wei P, Bao R, Fan Y. Brainstem Encephalitis Caused by Listeria monocytogenes. Pathogens 2020 Aug 30;9(9).
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  4. Marlo TL, Giuliano EA, Sharma A, Mohan RR. Development of a novel ex vivo equine corneal model. Vet Ophthalmol 2017 Jul;20(4):288-293.
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