Ocular abnormalities in the Icelandic horse with a focus on equine recurrent uveitis: 112 Icelandic horses living in Denmark and 26 Icelandic horses living in the United States

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

  • Michala de Linde Henriksen
  • Ann E. Dwyer
  • Rikke Krarup Nielsen
  • Sofia Bäcklund
  • Nanna Dahlmann Christensen
  • Pihl, Tina

Purpose: To describe the most common ocular abnormalities in the Icelandic horse with focus on equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) and association between ocular abnormalities and summer eczema and coat colors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. A complete physical and ophthalmic examination as well as measurement of serum titers for Leptospira serovariants was performed on Icelandic horses from Denmark (DK) and the United States (USA). Results: One hundred and twelve Icelandic horses living in DK and 26 Icelandic horses living in the United States were included in this study (total of 138 horses, 274 eyes). The three most common ocular abnormalities were follicular conjunctivitis (55.8%, 153/274 eyes), cataracts (27.4%, 75/274 eyes), and multifocal chorioretinopathy (“bullet holes”; 19%, 52/274 eyes). The prevalence for ERU among Icelandic horses aged “eight years and older” was 8% (6/75 horses). The “insidious ERU” type was found in 83% of the ERU cohort (5/6 horses), while “classic ERU” was found in 17% (1/6 horses). A correlation between ERU and cataracts was found in the population (p <.01). Leptospiral serology results were not associated with ERU in either DK or US-Icelandic horses (p = 1.00, p = 1.00, respectively). ERU was not associated with summer eczema (p =.49), and no coat colors were associated with the ocular abnormalities found in the Icelandic horse (all p-values >.05). Conclusion: Follicular conjunctivitis, cataracts, and multifocal chorioretinopathy were the three most common ocular abnormalities findings. Icelandic horses who were 8 years or older had an 8% prevalence for ERU. Summer eczema and coat color were not associated with evidence of ERU or other ocular abnormalities.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftVeterinary Ophthalmology
Vol/bind25
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)194-208
ISSN1463-5216
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This study was funded by KUSTOS af 1881 Foundation, Denmark. The authors would like to acknowledge all the Icelandic horse breeders, owners, and horses for their interest and involvement with this study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

ID: 287703189