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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The role of Leptospira spp. in horses affected with recurren...
Equine veterinary journal2017; 49(6); 706-709; doi: 10.1111/evj.12683

The role of Leptospira spp. in horses affected with recurrent uveitis in the UK.

Abstract: Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a common cause of ocular pain and blindness in horses. Leptospira spp. have been commonly implicated in the pathophysiology of ERU in mainland Europe and the USA. No recent studies have been carried out in the UK, but Leptospira is reported not to be a major factor in the aetiology of ERU in the UK. Objective: To establish the prevalence of Leptospira-associated ERU in the UK and to identify the serovars involved in these cases; to compare serum vs. aqueous humour antibody levels in cases and controls in order to confirm the diagnosis of Leptospira-associated ERU, and to assess the usefulness of serology alone as a confirmatory test for Leptospira-associated ERU in the UK. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: Eyes enucleated for clinical reasons in ERU-affected horses were collected. Blood and aqueous humour were obtained to determine antibody levels against a variety of Leptospira serovars and C-values (aqueous humour value/serum value) were calculated. In addition, eyes, blood and aqueous humour were obtained from control cases for comparison. Histopathology was performed in all eyes to confirm uveitis in each case. Differences in seroprevalences between ERU and control cases and between Leptospira- and non-Leptospira-associated ERU cases were calculated. Results: A total of 30 ERU and 43 control eyes were analysed. Of the ERU eyes, only two had a C-value of >4 (prevalence of Leptospira-associated uveitis: 6.7%). Serovars hardjo and javanica were detected. There was no difference in seroprevalence between horses with uveitis and control cases (65.5% and 41.9%, respectively; P = 0.11) or between Leptospira- and non-Leptospira-associated uveitis cases (100% and 63.0%, respectively; P = 0.52). Conclusions: The study was limited by low case numbers. Eyes were presented at different stages of disease. The only test used to detect Leptospira was the microscopic agglutination test. Conclusions: Leptospira-associated ERU is uncommon in the UK. Serology alone may not help to definitively diagnose Leptospira-associated uveitis in this country.
© 2017 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2017-04-24 PubMed ID: 28321895PubMed Central: PMC5655720DOI: 10.1111/evj.12683Google 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 investigates the link between a bacteria, Leptospira spp., and a common vision-threatening condition in horses in the UK, equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). The study sought to determine the prevalence of Leptospira-related ERU and established that it is rare in the UK, contrasting with observations from mainland Europe and the USA.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The paper sets out to determine how frequently cases of ERU in the UK are associated with Leptospira and to identify the specific strains (serovars) implicated in these cases. The researchers also wanted to compare antibody levels in the serum and aqueous humour (the fluid between the eye’s lens and cornea) to confirm Leptospira-associated ERU.
  • As a case-control study, the research involved both ERU-affected horses and unaffected controls. The eyes of horses experiencing uveitis were enucleated, or surgically removed for examination.
  • Researchers collected both blood and aqueous humour samples to determine antibodies against several strains of Leptospira. The ratio of antibody levels in the aqueous humour and the serum (C-values) was then calculated.
  • Histopathology was performed on the eyes to confirm each uveitis case and to calculate differences in the rates of positive serology results between ERU and control cases.

Results of the Study

  • The analysis involved 30 ERU cases and 43 control eyes. Among the ERU cases, only two harbored quantities of Leptospira antibody that substantially exceeded the levels in their blood, indicating a prevalence of Leptospira-associated uveitis of just 6.7%.
  • Two Leptospira serovars, hardjo and javanica, were detected in the samples.
  • No significant difference in Leptospira seroprevalence was found when comparing horses with and without uveitis or between ERU cases associated with Leptospira and those that weren’t.

Conclusions and Limitations

  • The study was limited by the small number of cases and the use of only one Leptospira detection method—the microscopic agglutination test. The researchers also noted that the eyes examined were in different stages of the disease, which may influence the results.
  • Despite these limitations, the study concluded that Leptospira-associated ERU is uncommon in the UK, contrasting with the situation in mainland Europe and the USA. Furthermore, the researchers suggested that serological testing alone may not be sufficient to definitively diagnose Leptospira-associated uveitis in the UK.

Cite This Article

APA
Malalana F, Blundell RJ, Pinchbeck GL, Mcgowan CM. (2017). The role of Leptospira spp. in horses affected with recurrent uveitis in the UK. Equine Vet J, 49(6), 706-709. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12683

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 6
Pages: 706-709

Researcher Affiliations

Malalana, F
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
Blundell, R J
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
Pinchbeck, G L
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
Mcgowan, C M
  • Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Aqueous Humor / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Leptospira / classification
  • Leptospira / isolation & purification
  • Leptospirosis / complications
  • Leptospirosis / epidemiology
  • Leptospirosis / microbiology
  • Leptospirosis / veterinary
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Uveitis / blood
  • Uveitis / epidemiology
  • Uveitis / microbiology
  • Uveitis / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
  1. 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.
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  2. Azócar-Aedo L, Meniconi G, Pino-Olguín C, Gallardo M. Seropositivity for Pathogenic Leptospira in Dogs, Cats, and Horses at a Teaching Veterinary Hospital in Southern Chile. Trop Med Infect Dis 2025 Sep 3;10(9).
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  3. Cassano JM, Leonard BC, Martins BC, Vapniarsky N, Morgan JT, Dow SW, Wotman KL, Pezzanite LM. Preliminary evaluation of safety and migration of immune activated mesenchymal stromal cells administered by subconjunctival injection for equine recurrent uveitis. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1293199.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1293199pubmed: 38162475google scholar: lookup
  4. Strutzberg-Minder K, Ullerich A, Dohmann K, Boehmer J, Goris M. Comparison of Two Leptospira Type Strains of Serovar Grippotyphosa in Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) Diagnostics for the Detection of Infections with Leptospires in Horses, Dogs and Pigs. Vet Sci 2022 Aug 29;9(9).
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  5. 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).
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  6. 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).
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  7. 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).
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  8. 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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  9. Tirosh-Levy S, Baum M, Schvartz G, Kalir B, Pe'er O, Shnaiderman-Torban A, Bernstein M, Blum SE, Steinman A. Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in Horses in Israel. Pathogens 2021 Apr 1;10(4).
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