Serological study of leptospiral infections and endogenous uveitis among horses and ponies in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Summary The prevalence of antibody titres to a range of 20 leptospira antigens in the serum of horses and ponies with no ophthalmic abnormalities and with ophthalmoscopic evidence of endogenous uveal inflammatory disease was determined using a microscopic agglutination technique. Titres against leptospira antigens were observed in 13 out of 138 (9.1 per cent) animals with no ophthalmic abnormalities, and in three out of 27 (11.1 per cent) animals with anterior uveitis. Serovar sejroe was common to all seropositive animals with anterior uveitis. The results show that leptospira infection is not a major factor in the aetiology of equine anterior uveitis in the UK, but suggests that the organism may be associated with some cases of recurrent anterior uveitis.

The outcome of pars plana vitrectomy in horses with equine recurrent uveitis with regard to the presence or absence of intravitreal antibodies against various serovars of Leptospira interrogans

“…While some authors consider ERU to be a purely immune-mediated disease (Hines and Halliwell 1991, Deeg et al 2001, Deeg et al 2002a, Deeg et al 2002b, Deeg et al 2004, Deeg et al 2006a, Deeg et al 2006b, Deeg et al 2007a, Deeg et al 2007b, Deeg et al 2007c, Deeg 2008, Deeg et al 2008, others consider Leptospira to be the cause or at least the triggering factor for ERU (Matthews et al 1987, Brem et al 1998, Wollanke et al 1998, Brem et al 1999, Faber et al 2000, Rohrbach et al 2002, Wollanke 2004a, Wollanke 2004b, Rohrbach et al 2005). …”

“…In a study in Great Britain, only 11.1% of horses with uveitis had positive titers against L. interrogans antibodies (Matthews et al 1987). The most common serovar was L. sejroe.…”

“…There is mounting evidence, that various serovars of Leptospira interrogans are at least the triggering factor for ERU (Roberts et al 1952, Yager et al 1952, Bryans 1955, Roberts 1958, Roberts 1969, Trap 1979, Hathaway et al 1981, Davidson et al 1987, Matthews et al 1987, Sillerud et al 1987, Dwyer et al 1995, Wollanke et al 1998, Wollanke et al 2001, Wollanke 2002, Wollanke et al 2004a, Niedermaier et al 2006, Gilger Salmon et al 2008 and it has been shown, that vaccination with a specific vaccine was successful in preventing new cases in an endemic horse population (Rohrbach et al 2002, Wollanke et al 2004b, Rohrbach et al 2005.…”

A study of leptospirosis in South African horses and associated risk factors

“…2001). Hickey (2010) correlation between ERU and serum antibody concentrations (Matthews et al 1987, Faber et al 2000.…”

Seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. in Clinically Healthy Racing Horses in Korea

“…Although most equine leptospirosis infections are asymptomatic, they may induce clinical syndromes such as uveitis [12] and abortion [8]. Its potential as an epidemiological threat to human health has also been noted [3].…”