Ocular abnormalities in the Icelandic horse with a focus on equine recurrent uveitis: 112 Icelandic horses living in Denmark and 26 Icelandic horses living in the United States

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Michala de Linde Henriksen
  • Ann E. Dwyer
  • Rikke Krarup Nielsen
  • Sofia Bäcklund
  • Nanna Dahlmann Christensen
  • Pihl, Tina

Purpose: To describe the most common ocular abnormalities in the Icelandic horse with focus on equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) and association between ocular abnormalities and summer eczema and coat colors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. A complete physical and ophthalmic examination as well as measurement of serum titers for Leptospira serovariants was performed on Icelandic horses from Denmark (DK) and the United States (USA). Results: One hundred and twelve Icelandic horses living in DK and 26 Icelandic horses living in the United States were included in this study (total of 138 horses, 274 eyes). The three most common ocular abnormalities were follicular conjunctivitis (55.8%, 153/274 eyes), cataracts (27.4%, 75/274 eyes), and multifocal chorioretinopathy (“bullet holes”; 19%, 52/274 eyes). The prevalence for ERU among Icelandic horses aged “eight years and older” was 8% (6/75 horses). The “insidious ERU” type was found in 83% of the ERU cohort (5/6 horses), while “classic ERU” was found in 17% (1/6 horses). A correlation between ERU and cataracts was found in the population (p <.01). Leptospiral serology results were not associated with ERU in either DK or US-Icelandic horses (p = 1.00, p = 1.00, respectively). ERU was not associated with summer eczema (p =.49), and no coat colors were associated with the ocular abnormalities found in the Icelandic horse (all p-values >.05). Conclusion: Follicular conjunctivitis, cataracts, and multifocal chorioretinopathy were the three most common ocular abnormalities findings. Icelandic horses who were 8 years or older had an 8% prevalence for ERU. Summer eczema and coat color were not associated with evidence of ERU or other ocular abnormalities.

Original languageEnglish
JournalVeterinary Ophthalmology
Volume25
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)194-208
ISSN1463-5216
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

    Research areas

  • cataracts, equine recurrent uveitis, follicular conjunctivitis, icelandic horse, ocular abnormalities, ophthalmology

ID: 287703189