Table 1.
Details of 9 horses treated with CXL and medical treatment for stromal ulcerative keratitis
| Horse | Breed | Sex and age | Disease history | Topical medication pre CXL | Stromal ulcer size; depth pre CXL | Stromal melting | Comments | Microbes on cytology and in culture pre CXL | Fluor. neg. post CXL | Follow up time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mixed breed pony |
G 6 yr |
4 w |
Fucidic acid 1 w, chloramphenicol 2 w, natamycin 1 w |
5 × 5 mm; 1/3 |
no |
Hypopyon |
Abundant fungal hyphae/ Yeast overgrowth, mixed bacteria |
Enucl. |
n/a |
| 2 |
Swedish Warmblood |
G 5 yr |
4½ w |
Fucidic acid 1 w, chloramphenicol-ciprofloxacin 2½ w, natamycin 1 w |
4 × 4 mm; 1/3 7 × 7 mm; 1/3 |
yes |
|
Abundant fungal hyphae/ Scedosporium spp. |
9 d |
19 mo |
| 3 |
Warmblood Trotter |
F 1 yr |
1 w |
Chloramphenicol 1 w |
10 × 10 mm; 2/3 |
yes |
Extensive cellular infiltration. Severe purulent discharge |
Abundant coccoid bacteria/ ß-hem. Streptococcus |
20 d |
12 mo |
| 4 |
Islandic horse |
S 2 yr |
< 1 w |
Chloramphenicol < 1w |
8 × 8 mm; 2/3 |
no |
Hypopyon |
Sparse coccoid bacteria/ ß-hem. Streptococcus |
9 d |
11 mo |
| 5 |
Mixed breed pony |
F 5 yr |
> 2 w |
Fucidic acid >1 w, chloramphenicol + autologous serum in EDTA 1 w |
4 × 4 mm; 1/3 5 × 5 mm; 2/3 |
no |
Two stromal ulcers in large superficial ulcer. Severe purulent discharge |
No bacteria/ No growth |
9 d + 16 d |
9 mo |
| 6 |
Miniatur Shetland Pony |
F 16 y |
< 1 w |
Fucidic acid < 1 w |
8 × 8 mm; 2/3 |
no |
Stromal ulcer in large superficial ulcer |
Abundant bacteria/ Untyped G + bacteria |
14 d |
6 mo |
| 7 |
Warmblood Trotter |
F 1 mo |
< 1 w |
No |
10 × 13 mm; 2/3 |
yes |
Extensive cellular infiltration. Severe purulent discharge |
Abundant bacteria/ Pasteurella spp |
4 d |
5 mo |
| 8 |
Welsh Pony |
S 2 mo |
1 w |
Chloramphenicol 1 w |
5 × 5 mm; 2/3 |
no |
|
Moderate bacteria/ Untyped G + coccoid |
14 d |
5 mo |
| 9 | Welsh Pony | F 15 yr | 1 d | No | 6 × 18 mm; 1/3 | yes | Corneal laceration | No bacteria/ No growth | 26 d | 5 mo |
F = female (mare), G = gelding, S = stallion, d = days, mo = months, w = weeks, yr = years, 1/3 = anterior third of the cornea, 2/3 = middle third of the cornea, G + =Gram-positive, ß-hem = ß-hemolytic, enucl = enucleated, n/a = not applicable. All horses were affected unilaterally. For horse no 5, the number of days to fluorescein negativity is listed for each of the two stromal ulcers respectively.