EQUINE | Abstracts
Detection of intraocular Leptospira spp. by real‐time
polymerase chain reaction in horses with recurrent
uveitis in Belgium
A. C. Sauvage, S. J. Monclin, M. Elansary, P. Hansen, M. F. Grauwels
First published: 25 August 2018
Background
Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) has been associated
with Leptospira spp. infection. No information exists
concerning the prevalence of Leptospira‐associated
ERU in Belgium and about the sensitivity of detection
of Leptospira in different ocular media.
Objectives
To establish the prevalence of intraocular Leptospira
spp. in ERU‐affected and healthy eyes of horses
examined at the Equine Clinic of the University of
Liège by real‐time PCR and to compare the results of
the aqueous and vitreous humour of the same eye.
Study design
Cross‐sectional.
Methods
Both groups were comparable regarding age, sex,
eye sampled (OS/OD), humours sampled (aqueous/
vitreous humour) but not regarding breeds, with an
over‐representation of Warmbloods and Appaloosas
in the ERU‐group. The prevalence of Leptospira spp.
was 30.3% (20/66 eyes) in the ERU‐group. Leptospira
spp. DNA was identified in 11 aqueous and 17
vitreous humours with eight horses testing positive
in both humours, nine horses testing positive for
vitreous humour alone and third horses for aqueous
humour alone. The phi‐correlation between aqueous
and vitreous humour Leptospira‐PCR results is 0.47
suggesting a low association. All the control eyes were
negative.
Main limitations
Sixty‐six eyes from 59 client‐owned horses with a
diagnosis of equine recurrent uveitis (ERU‐group) were
studied from May 2015 to December 2017. Fifty healthy
eyes from 28 euthanised horses for unrelated reasons
examined during the same period were included in
the control group. Intraocular fluids (aqueous and/
or vitreous humours) from ERU‐affected eyes were
sampled and analysed by real‐time PCR for Leptospira
spp. Aqueous and vitreous humours from the control
group were processed in the same way.
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Results
The diagnostic method selected for this study (lipL32
qPCR) did not allow identification of the serovars.
Conclusions
Leptospirosis is a potential cause of ERU in Belgium.
Testing both intraocular media is advised whenever
possible.
• Equine Health Update •
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13012