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Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere 2015; 43(05): 337-344
DOI: 10.15654/TPK-141053
Case Report
Schattauer GmbH

Encephalitozoon cuniculi causes focal anterior cataract and uveitis in dogs

Encephalitozoon cuniculi verursacht fokale anteriore Katarakt und Uveitis beim Hund
B. Nell
1   Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
,
J. Csokai
2   Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
,
A. Fuchs-Baumgartinger
2   Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
,
G. Maaß
3   Tierarztpraxis Breitenfurt, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 12 December 2014

Accepted after revision: 13 March 2015

Publication Date:
08 January 2018 (online)

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Summary

Three mongrel dogs, aged 10 months (case 1), 14 months (case 2) and 7.5 years (case 3), were presented because of ophthalmologic disorders of 4 months, 6 months and 7 years duration, respectively. All three dogs were offspring of stray dogs from Hungary and Serbia and had positive serum antibody titres against Encephalitozoon (E.) cuniculi. The two young dogs showed unilateral, the older dog bilateral chronic anterior uveitis with posterior synechia and focal anterior cortical cataract. The fundi that could be evaluated developed focal tapetal hyporeflective lesions in the course of the disease. Dogs 1 and 2 underwent removal of the lens via phacoemulsification. PCR of the lens material was positive for E. cuniculi strains IV and II, respectively. In dog 2 findings suggestive of microsporidia were detected underneath the anterior lens capsule by immunohistochemical staining. In all cases medical treatment consisted of systemic fenbendazole, prednisolone, and topical anti-inflammatory drugs, and additional brinzolamid/timolol for dog 3. For the time being all cases (follow up 23 months, 6 months and 3 months, respectively) are still on topical anti-inflammatory therapy. It is concluded that E. cuniculi infections can cause cataract and chorioretinal lesions in dogs.

Zusammenfassung

Drei Mischlingshunde im Alter von 10 Monaten (Fall 1), 14 Monaten (Fall 2) bzw. 7,5 Jahren (Fall 3) wurden wegen ophthalmologischer Veränderungen vorgestellt, die 4 Monate, 6 Monate bzw. 7 Jahre andauerten. Alle drei waren Nachkommen von Streunerhunden aus Ungarn und Serbien und hatten positive Serum-Antikörpertiter gegen Encephalitozoon (E.) cuniculi. Die beiden jungen Hunde zeigten unilateral, der ältere Hund bilateral eine chronische Uveitis anterior mit posterioren Synechien und fokalen anterioren subkapsulären Katarakten. Die Fundi, die beurteilt werden konnten, entwickelten im Verlauf der Erkrankung fokale hyporeflektive Läsionen im Tapetum lucidum. Bei Fall 1 und 2 wurde die Linse via Phakoemulsifikation entfernt. Die PCR des Linsenmaterials war positiv für E. cuniculi Stamm IV bzw. II. Bei Fall 2 wurden mittels immunohistochemischer Färbung unterhalb der vorderen Linsenkapsel Veränderungen entdeckt, die auf Mikrosporidien schließen lassen. Alle Patienten wurden systemisch mit Fenbendazol und Prednisolon sowie topisch mit antiinflammatorischen Medikamenten behandelt. Patient 3 erhielt zusätzlich eine topische Therapie mit Brinzolamid/Timolol. Zurzeit (Kontrolle nach 23 Monaten, 6 Monaten, 3 Monaten) erfolgt bei allen Hunden eine topische antiinflammatorische Behandlung. Aus den Fällen ist zu folgern, dass E.-cuniculi-Infektionen beim Hund Katarakte und chorioretinale Läsionen verursachen können.

Keywords

Microsporidia - lens - uvea - dog

Schlüsselwörter

Mikrosporidien - Linse - Uvea - Hund
 

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