Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Keratitis caused by microfilariae infection in dogs
By Morales, Adriana et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2018·Clí, Brazil·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Keratitis due to microfilariae in dogs: a newly recognized disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Seven dogs in Brazil were diagnosed with keratitis, which is an eye condition causing cloudiness in the cornea, due to tiny parasites called microfilariae. The dogs showed symptoms like cloudy areas on their eyes and mild redness around the eyelids, but they didn’t seem to be in pain or have any scratches on their corneas. A biopsy confirmed the presence of these parasites in their eyes and skin. After starting treatment with oral ivermectin, most dogs improved, and one dog even completely recovered.
People also search for: dog eye problems cloudy cornea · dog skin lesions treatment · ivermectin for dog keratitis
Abstract
Parasitic agents have been associated with keratitis, but a diagnosis of parasitic keratitis has not been commonly made in domestic animals. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and histopathological findings in seven dogs with chronic keratitis caused by microfilariae diagnosed in Brazil. All dogs presented with superficial corneal opacities of varying degrees affecting the perilimbal and central regions of the cornea, with other opaque areas appearing as crystalline deposits and corneal vascularization. The lesions were bilateral and were associated with mild-to-moderate conjunctival hyperemia. There was no history of blepharospasm or pruritus, and no subjects presented with epithelial erosions. Corneal biopsy revealed free microfilariae in the corneal stroma, with varying degrees of inflammation and collagen fiber destruction. The microfilariae were also found in skin lesions by skin snip technique. No adult worms were found in these dogs, and no dogs were on heartworm preventative before diagnosis. Monthly doses of oral ivermectin improved ocular and dermal lesions. One dog showed complete remission with the treatment. The species of the microfilariae was not identified.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28508467/