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Equine recurrent uveitis ‐ an update
Author(s) -
Matthews Andrew
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inpract.21.7.370
Subject(s) - medicine , uveitis , dermatology , disease , differential diagnosis , blindness , rhodococcus equi , sympathetic ophthalmia , ophthalmology , pathology , optometry , biology , biochemistry , virulence , gene
UVEITIS may arise from a number of causes, including blunt or perforating injury to the globe and, rarely, haematogenous spread of bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus equi var equi or Rhodococcus equi. Occasionally, uveitis may be seen in cases of neonatal septicaemia. However, horses may be presented with an apparently endogenous form of the disease, usually referred to as equine recurrent uveitis (ERU). This term is synonymous with the obsolete nomenclature of 'moon blindness' or 'periodic ophthalmia'. ERU is typically a non‐granulomatous anterior uveitis or panuveitis affecting any age, type or sex of horse, and is a potential cause of blindness. Both eyes may be affected, although not necessarily simultaneously, and the disease is potentially, but not inevitably, recurrent. ERU is relatively uncommon in the UK, but is an important differential diagnosis in cases of acute ocular pain.