Uveal inflammation in septic newborn foals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Equine Neonatal Sepsis
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Septicemia is a major cause of uveitis in humans, potentially leading to blindness.
• Uveitis, an inflammation of the uveal tract, requires further investigation in veterinary medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between uveal inflammatory findings and sepsis severity in newborn foals.
• To determine if uveal inflammation can serve as an indirect indicator of survival in septic foals.

Main Methods:

• A prospective observational clinical study involving 74 septic, 54 nonseptic, and 42 healthy foals.
• Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were conducted by boarded ophthalmologists.
• Foals were categorized based on sepsis score and blood culture results (septic, nonseptic, control; bacteremic, nonbacteremic).

Main Results:

• Anterior uveitis was significantly more prevalent in septic/bacteremic foals (40%) compared to other groups.
• Anterior uveitis was associated with anterior chamber fibrin and posterior uveitis in septic/bacteremic foals.
• Uveitis diagnosis was strongly correlated with nonsurvival in septic foals (P = .001, OR = 6.2).

Conclusions:

• Anterior uveitis is highly prevalent in septic newborn foals, especially those with bacteremia.
• Ocular inflammatory findings, specifically anterior uveitis, are significant prognostic indicators for survival in septic foals.
• Early ophthalmic assessment may aid in predicting outcomes for septic foals.