Ulcerative fungal keratitis in a Brown Swiss cow

• Published in: Veterinary ophthalmology 2013-11, Vol.16 (6), p.464-466
• Main Authors: Voelter‐Ratson, Katrin, Monod, Michel, Braun, Ueli, Spiess, Bernhard M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use; bovine; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - drug therapy; Cattle Diseases - microbiology; Cattle Diseases - pathology; Corneal Ulcer - drug therapy; Corneal Ulcer - microbiology; Corneal Ulcer - veterinary; Edetic Acid - administration & dosage; Edetic Acid - therapeutic use; Eurotium - isolation & purification; Eurotium amstelodami; eye; Eye Infections, Fungal - drug therapy; Eye Infections, Fungal - microbiology; Eye Infections, Fungal - veterinary; Female; fungal; keratomycosis; Miconazole - administration & dosage; Miconazole - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1463-5216; 1463-5224
• DOI: 10.1111/vop.12037

An 11‐year‐old Brown Swiss cow was referred to the Farm Animal Department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, because of lateral recumbency due to puerperal hemolytic anemia. The animal had developed enophthalmos due to dehydration at the time of presentation. Two days after hospitalization, the cow showed blepharospasm and epiphora of the right eye. Ophthalmic examination of the right eye revealed a fluorescein‐positive, paraxial, superficial corneal ulcer with focal edema, and mild superficial neovascularization. White corneal stromal infiltrates were seen at the edges of the ulcer bed. After initial topical treatment with an antibiotic ointment (Neomycin 3.5 mg/g, Bacitracin 250 IU/g) three times a day, an increase in corneal infiltrates was noted on re‐examination 2 days later. Several fluorescein‐negative, punctate, stromal, white opacities were seen dorsal to the ulcer. Cytology demonstrated the presence of fungal hyphae. Topical treatment with 2% miconazole ointment and 0.36% K‐EDTA eye drops six times daily and four times daily, respectively, from the second day and continued antibiotics three times daily resolved the clinical symptoms within 6 days. Fungal culture identified the fungal organism as Eurotium amstelodami.