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Veterinary ophthalmology2020; 23(6); 1014-1024; doi: 10.1111/vop.12817

Ocular disease in horses with confirmed ocular or central nervous system Borrelia infection: Case series and review of literature.

Abstract: To describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and clinical outcome of horses with ocular disease and evidence of systemic or ocular Lyme disease. Methods: Five horses met the inclusion criteria of ocular disease with evidence of B burgdorferi present in ocular or CNS tissues. Methods: The goal of this study was to describe the clinical presentation and progression of ocular disease when associated with ocular or CNS B burgdorferi infection in horses. A retrospective review of medical records was performed on horses admitted for ocular disease with evidence of B burgdorferi infection between 1998 and 2015. The diagnosis of B burgdorferi-associated uveitis was based on histopathologic lesions of lymphohistiocytic and suppurative uveitis/endophthalmitis and intralesional argyrophilic spirochetes in either ocular or CNS tissue consistent with Borrelia. Leptospiral uveitis was ruled out by PCR. Results: All five horses in the current study had intraocular inflammation at the time of presentation. Medical management with anti-inflammatories was successful in controlling uveitis in the two horses in which treatment of uveitis was attempted. Systemic treatment with oral tetracyclines was unsuccessful in a single case in which treatment of Borrelia was attempted. Four horses were euthanized due to progression of neurologic disease. The surviving horse had an enucleation performed and did not show systemic signs. Conclusions: Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi should be considered in endemic areas as a differential for horses with ocular disease, in particular, uveitis. The prognosis for uveitis and neurologic disease associated with Lyme disease was poor in the current study.
© 2020 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-30 PubMed ID: 32862516DOI: 10.1111/vop.12817Google 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 research paper presents a review of cases where horses suffering from ocular diseases, in particular uveitis, showed evidence of systemic or ocular Lyme disease caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The paper highlights that Lyme disease could be a potential cause for ocular diseases in horses in areas where the disease is prevalent. Interestingly, while treatment of uveitis with anti-inflammatory medication proved successful in controlling the condition, attempts to treat Borrelia with oral tetracyclines were unsuccessful.

Study and Clinical Findings

  • The research encapsulated an observational analysis of horses diagnosed with ocular diseases and Borrelia infection spanning from 1998 to 2015.
  • All five horses included in the study exhibited intraocular inflammation at the time of their initial examination.
  • Leptospiral uveitis was excluded as a potential cause through PCR tests.
  • The diagnosis of Borrelia-associated uveitis was based on histopathologic evidence of lymphohistiocytic and suppurative uveitis/endophthalmitis. The presence of intralesional argyrophilic spirochetes in ocular or CNS tissue further confirmed the Borrelia infection.

Treatment and Outcomes

  • Anti-inflammatory drugs were effective in controlling uveitis in two of the horses that received treatment.
  • A single case attempted systemic treatment with oral tetracyclines to combat the Borrelia infection, but this was unsuccessful.
  • Four of the five horses were euthanized due to the progression of neurological disease.
  • The surviving horse received a surgical procedure called enucleation and did not exhibit systemic signs of disease.

Conclusion

  • Horses demonstrating ocular diseases such as uveitis in areas where Lyme disease is common should be screened for a Borrelia burgdorferi infection.
  • Based on the outcomes of the case study, the prognosis for uveitis and neurological disease associated with Lyme disease in horses was frequently poor.
  • Though anti-inflammatory medication was effective in treating uveitis, existing methods of systemic treatment for Borrelia appear to be ineffective.

Cite This Article

APA
Scherrer NM, Knickelbein KE, Engiles JB, Johnstone LK, Tewari D, Johnson AL. (2020). Ocular disease in horses with confirmed ocular or central nervous system Borrelia infection: Case series and review of literature. Vet Ophthalmol, 23(6), 1014-1024. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12817

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 23
Issue: 6
Pages: 1014-1024

Researcher Affiliations

Scherrer, Nicole M
  • New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Knickelbein, Kelly E
  • William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, UC Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Engiles, Julie B
  • New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Johnstone, Laura K
  • New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Tewari, Deepanker
  • Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, PA, USA.
Johnson, Amy L
  • New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Borrelia
  • Borrelia burgdorferi
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / diagnosis
  • Lyme Neuroborreliosis / veterinary
  • Male

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This article includes 33 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Divers TJ, Mongodin EF, Miller CB, Belgrave RL, Gardner RB, Fraser CM, Schutzer SE. Genomic hybrid capture assay to detect Borrelia burgdorferi: an application to diagnose neuroborreliosis in horses. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Sep;34(5):909-912.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387221112617pubmed: 35864735google scholar: lookup
  2. Pinn-Woodcock TL, Aprea MS, Lejeune M, Tomlinson JE. Molecular detection of pathogens in an equine fever diagnostic panel: 2019-2023. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):486-496.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14527pubmed: 40384355google scholar: lookup
  3. Broeckl CV, Hiereth S, Straubinger RK. A comparative study evaluating three line immunoassays available for serodiagnosis of equine Lyme borreliosis: Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato-specific antibodies in serum samples of vaccinated and non-vaccinated horses. PLoS One 2024;19(12):e0316170.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316170pubmed: 39715214google scholar: lookup
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