Abstracts | EQUINE
Equine ulcerative keratitis with furrow: A review of the
outcomes of 72 cases from 1987 to 2015
W. M. Berkowski Jr, W. F. Craft, R. D. Whitley, D. E. Brooks, C. E. Plummer
Retrospective clinical case series. diagnosed with bacterial keratitis. Overall, 26 of 72
total eyes were treated with medical therapy alone
(36%). Forty‐six of 72 eyes were treated medically
and surgically (64%). Of the 26 eyes which received
medical therapy, 20 healed with a positive visual
outcome (77%) and 6 eyes were non‐visual (23%). Of
the 46 eyes which received surgical intervention, 40
healed with a positive visual outcome (87%), while
six eyes were non‐visual (13%). Altogether, 60 of 72
eyes healed with a positive visual outcome following
medical or surgical treatment of furrow‐forming
ulcerative keratitis (83%). Twelve of 72 eyes failed
treatment (17%), with six eyes requiring enucleation
and six globes becoming phthisical after treatment.
Methods Main limitations
Background
Ulcerative keratitis with peripheral furrow formation
is a poorly‐described condition which has been
associated with a grave prognosis due to rapid necrosis
of the cornea.
Objective
To describe the infectious aetiologies associated with
furrow‐forming ulcerative keratitis, its overall clinical
course and the efficacy of medical and surgical
intervention in horses.
Study design
Medical records of 72 horses which presented with
furrow‐forming ulcerative keratitis at the University of
Florida between 1987 and 2015 were reviewed.
Results
Seventy‐two horses (72 eyes) with furrow‐forming
ulcerative keratitis were treated at the University of
Florida between 1987 and 2015. Of these, a definitive
aetiologic diagnosis was available for 37 eyes. Ten of
37 eyes (27%) were diagnosed with fungal keratitis
based on cytology of corneal scraping, culture,
histopathology and/or fungal PCR. Fourteen of 37
eyes (38%) were diagnosed with a mixed fungal and
bacterial keratitis. Thirteen of 37 eyes (35%) were
Inconsistencies in available medical record data due
to the large span of time (1987–2015) are inherent in
this retrospective study, along with gradual evolution
of corneal surgical techniques and medical therapies
over the decades.
Conclusions
Furrow‐forming ulcerative keratitis was associated
with a positive visual outcome in 83% of horses
treated at the University of Florida between the years
1987 and 2015. Furrow formation may be associated
with either fungal or bacterial infection.
• Volume 21 Issue 2 | May 2019 •
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