1. Ophthalmologic findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia in foals.
- Author
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Tarancón, Iciar, Leiva, Marta, Jose‐Cunilleras, Eduard, Ríos, José, and Peña, Teresa
- Subjects
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FOALS , *RHODOCOCCUS , *UVEAL diseases , *IRIDOCYCLITIS , *PROGNOSIS , *FAILURE mode & effects analysis - Abstract
Objective: To describe ocular findings associated with Rhodococcus equi bronchopneumonia in foals, and to determine whether severity of the ocular lesions is related with outcome. Animals studied: Foals diagnosed with R equi infection at the VTH‐UAB from January 2002 to December 2017. Procedure: 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%). Conclusion: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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