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. 2009 Jun 5:374–418. doi: 10.1016/B978-072160561-6.50021-6

Table 18-4.

Systemic Causes of Corneal Diseases in the Dog and Cat

DISEASE DOG CAT
Infectious causes of keratitis*/keratoconjunctivitis
  • Canine distemper virus (CDV)

  • Canine herpesvirus (neonates only)

  • Pseudorabies

  • Canine oral papilloma virus

  • Lyme borreliosis (Borrelia burgdorferi)

  • Coccidioidomycosis (Coccidioides immitis)

  • Leishmaniasis (Leishmania infantum, Leishmania chagasi)

  • Trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma vivax)

  • Feline rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus 1 [FHV-1])

  • Bartonellosis (Bartonella henselae, Bartonella spp.)

Corneal ulcers
  • Hyperadrenocorticism

  • Tyrosinemia

  • Insect bites (spiders, fire ants, etc.)

Feline rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus 1 [FHV-1]) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of corneal sequestrum
Primary corneal edema
  • Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH)

  • Canine herpesvirus (puppies only)

  • Dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis)

  • Tocainide toxicity

Nonedematous corneal opacities
  • Hypothyroidism

  • Mucopolysaccharidosis

  • Tyrosinemia

  • Hyperlipidemia

  • Systemic histiocytosis

  • Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

  • Mucopolysaccharidosis I, IV

  • Gangliosidosis (GM1, GM2)

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
  • American hepatozoonosis (Hepatozoon americanum)

  • Hyperadrenocorticism

  • Sulfonamide toxicity

  • Phenazopyridine toxicity

  • Ionizing radiation

  • Systemic autoimmune secretory gland adenitis (associated with hypothyroidism, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.)

  • Canine distemper

Feline dysautonomia (Key-Gaskell syndrome)
Symblepharon
  • Feline rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus 1 [FHV-1])

  • Chlamydiosis (Chlamydophila [formerly Chlamydia] psittaci)

*

Associated ocular signs include epiphora and discharge, blepharospasm, conjunctival congestion, corneal edema, vascularization, infiltration, ulceration, and pigmentation.

Associated signs include corneal opacity, bullous keratopathy, keratoconus, and impairment of vision.