Keratomycosis

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Keratomycosis

Fungal Keratitis, Stormal Abscess, Superficial Ulcerative Keratitis, Mycotic Keratitis, Stromal Ulcerative Keratitis

Keratomycosis is a serious eye disease in horses, caused by changes to the normal ocular flora of the horse. It is caused by invasion of commensal ocular fungi or environmental pathogenic fungi into the corneal stroma. It usually occurs following previous trauma to the eye or bacterial infection. Keratomycosis occurs more frequently in horses living in warm, humid climates.

Aspergillus spp. is most frequently isolated from cases of horses with keratomycosis. There are three basic types of keratomycosis which include superficial ulcerative keratitis, stromal ulcerative keratitis, and stormal abscess.

Superficial ulcerative keratitis is an ulcerated cornea with no stromal loss of malacia and cellular infiltrate in the anterior 50% of the cornea. Stromal ulcerative keratitis is the most frequent type of keratomycosis found in horses and is an ulcerated cornea with stromal loss and/or malacia and/or cellular infiltrate beyond the anterior 50% of the cornea. Stormal abscess is a nonulcerated cornea with stromal cellular infiltrate.

Symptoms

Whitish to yellow opacification
Plaque formation
Melting ulcers
Dry and hazy appearance to the cornea
Signs of pain
Microerosion
Ulcers
Iris prolapse

Diagnosis

  • History
  • Clinical signs
  • Eye exam
  • Laboratory tests

Support

Therapies

TherapiesDetails
Topical antifungal agentsmiconazole, natamycin, voriconazole
Topical antibiotics
Atropine
Autologus serum
NSAIDs
Surgical therapy

Prevention

Scientific Research

General Overviews

Risk Factors

  • Exposure to warm humid environments (such as a heated barn)
  • Overuse of ophthalmic antibiotics - Has been associated with shifting the ocular flora from predominately gram positive to gram negative bacterial pathogens.
  • History of trauma

Seasonality

WinterSpringSummerAutumn

Causative agent