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Brucella canis endophthalmitis in 3 dogs: clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment
Author(s) -
Ledbetter Eric C.,
Landry Matthew P.,
Stokol Tracy,
Kern Thomas J.,
Messick Joanne B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2009.00690.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endophthalmitis , uveitis , canis , brucellosis , enrofloxacin , chorioretinitis , doxycycline , brucella , serology , surgery , ophthalmology , antibiotics , immunology , biology , antibody , paleontology , ciprofloxacin , microbiology and biotechnology
Objective To describe historical, clinical and diagnostic features of dogs with Brucella canis endophthalmitis and the response to medical therapy. Animals studied Three dogs with naturally acquired B. canis endophthalmitis. Procedure Dogs were treated symptomatically with topical ophthalmic anti‐inflammatories and a novel antimicrobial protocol that included doxycycline, enrofloxacin, rifampin and streptomycin. Results All dogs presented with chronic or recurrent uveitis in the absence of overt systemic disease. Clinical ophthalmologic abnormalities were unilateral in each dog and included mild‐to‐moderate anterior uveitis, iris hyperpigmentation, marked vitreal infiltrates, and multifocal chorioretinitis. Dogs were diagnosed with canine brucellosis serologically and by blood culture ( n = 2 dogs) or polymerase chain reaction of aqueous humor and blood ( n = 1 dog). Active ocular inflammation resolved in all dogs during treatment, with preservation of vision in 2 dogs. Following treatment, B. canis could not be cultured from blood samples and serological values declined with seronegativity achieved in all dogs after a median of 96 weeks (range: 36–112 weeks) of therapy. Conclusions Brucella canis infection should be included in the differential diagnosis for dogs with intraocular inflammation, regardless of previous history or neuter status. This is the first report of apparently successful medical therapy of canine brucellosis with ocular involvement.