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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Ophthalmol / Ophthalmologic findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bro...
Veterinary ophthalmology2019; 22(5); 660-665; doi: 10.1111/vop.12637

Ophthalmologic findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia in foals.

Abstract: To describe ocular findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia in foals, and to determine whether severity of the ocular lesions is related with outcome. Methods: Foals diagnosed with R equi infection at the VTH-UAB from January 2002 to December 2017. Methods: Rhodococcus equi infection was diagnosed by means of clinical signs, radiographic/ultrasonographic findings, and/or positive culture. In all the foals, a complete ophthalmic examination by a boarded ophthalmologist was performed and ocular signs were recorded and graded (0-4). Results: Thirty-nine foals were included in the study, from which 12 showed signs of bilateral anterior uveitis (30.8%). Among these, three foals were classified as mildly uveitis-affected (MUA:7.7%) and nine as severely uveitis-affected (SUA:23.1%). Five SUA foals showed green aqueous flare (5/9;55.5%). Despite the systemic treatment, 9/39 sick foals died (23.1%), the fatality rate being different between groups: SUA (4/9;44.4%), MUA (0/3; 0%) and nonuveitis-affected foals (5/27;18.5%). Among SUA foals, only one with green aqueous flare died (1/5;20%). Conclusions: Bilateral anterior uveitis is highly prevalent in foals with R equi pneumonia (30.8%). The severity of anterior uveitis might be considered a nonsurvival prognostic factor and, until proven otherwise, green aqueous flare could be taken as a strongly suggestive ocular sign of the disease. Findings of this study remark the clinical relevance of performing a complete ophthalmic examination in sick foals, in order to help in the diagnosis and prognosis of uveal diseases, as well as to guaranteeing visual soundness.
© 2019 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
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Publication Date: 2019-01-31 PubMed ID: 30706641DOI: 10.1111/vop.12637Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 article explores the eye-related abnormalities found in young horses (foals) suffering from Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia, and investigates whether the severity of these eye issues correlates with outcomes.

Research Methods and Design

  • This study included foals diagnosed with R equi infection at VTH-UAB from January 2002 to December 2017.
  • R equi infection was confirmed through clinical symptoms, radiographic/ultrasonographic findings, and/or positive culture.
  • All foals underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination by a certified ophthalmologist. The eye signs were documented and assigned a severity grade from 0 to 4.

Results

  • A total of 39 foals were included in this study. Out of these, 12 displayed symptoms of bilateral anterior uveitis (30.8%), also known as inflammation of the middle layer of the eye.
  • Three of the foals had mild uveitis (MUA: 7.7%), and nine suffered from severe uveitis (SUA: 23.1%).
  • Five of the severely affected foals exhibited a green aqueous flare (5/9; 55.5%), which indicates severe inflammation in the eyes.
  • Despite treatment, nine out of the 39 foals died. The fatality rate was different amongst the groups: SUA (4/9; 44.4%), MUA (0/3; 0%) and foals not affected by uveitis (5/27;18.5%).
  • Only one foal with the green aqueous flare died (1/5;20%).

Conclusions

  • According to the study, bilateral anterior uveitis is fairly common in foals suffering from R equi pneumonia (30.8%).
  • The severity of uveitis could potentially be utilized as a non-survival prognostic factor.
  • Until proven otherwise, green aqueous flare could be viewed as a strong ocular sign of the disease.
  • The results of this research highlight the significance of a full ophthalmic exam in sick foals for the diagnosis and prognosis of uveal diseases, as well as for ensuring visual health.

Cite This Article

APA
Tarancón I, Leiva M, Jose-Cunilleras E, Ríos J, Peña T. (2019). Ophthalmologic findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia in foals. Vet Ophthalmol, 22(5), 660-665. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12637

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Pages: 660-665

Researcher Affiliations

Tarancón, Iciar
  • Servei de Medicina Interna Equina, Unitat Equina-Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Leiva, Marta
  • Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Servei d'Oftalmologia de la Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jose-Cunilleras, Eduard
  • Servei de Medicina Interna Equina, Unitat Equina-Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ríos, José
  • Medical Statistics Core Facility, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Peña, Teresa
  • Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Servei d'Oftalmologia de la Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

MeSH Terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / drug therapy
  • Actinomycetales Infections / pathology
  • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / pathology
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Rhodococcus equi
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Uveitis, Anterior / drug therapy
  • Uveitis, Anterior / microbiology
  • Uveitis, Anterior / pathology
  • Uveitis, Anterior / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Rakowska A, Marciniak-Karcz A, Bereznowski A, Cywińska A, Żychska M, Witkowski L. Less Typical Courses of Rhodococcus equi Infections in Foals. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 31;9(11).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9110605pubmed: 36356082google scholar: lookup
  2. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9080448pubmed: 36006363google scholar: lookup
  3. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10020387pubmed: 35208842google scholar: lookup
  4. Rakowska A, Cywinska A, Witkowski L. Current Trends in Understanding and Managing Equine Rhodococcosis. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 18;10(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10101910pubmed: 33081047google scholar: lookup
  5. 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.
    doi: 10.1177/1040638720912698pubmed: 32207378google scholar: lookup
  6. Rakowska A, Czopowicz M, Bereznowski A, Witkowski L. Investigation of the relationship between pulmonary lesions based on lung ultrasound and respiratory clinical signs in foals with suspected pulmonary rhodococcosis. Sci Rep 2023 Nov 8;13(1):19401.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-46833-2pubmed: 37938262google scholar: lookup
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