Abstract
Microscopic examination of Gram-stained tissue specimens collected from severe corneal ulcers in 2 horses revealed large gram-positive rods suggestive of Clostridium spp. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from specimens collected from horse 1; anaerobic organisms were not detected in specimens from horse 2. Aerobic bacterial culture revealed Aeromonas hydrophila and Enterobacter cloacae in specimens collected from horses 1 and 2, respectively. An insect exoskeleton was presumed to be the underlying cause of ulceration in horse 1. Cause of ulceration in horse 2 was not determined. Antibiotics used to treat the corneal infections included ticarcillin disodium-clavulanic acid injected one time subconjunctivally and chloramphenicol applied topically at frequent intervals. Horse 2 also received penicillin or trimethoprim-sulfadiazine. Small leukomas were the only lesion remaining between 2 and 7 months after initial evaluation. Chloramphenicol applied topically appears to be an effective treatment against clostridial corneal infections in horses.
MeSH terms
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Administration, Topical
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Aeromonas hydrophila / isolation & purification
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Animals
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Bacteria, Aerobic / isolation & purification*
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Chloramphenicol / administration & dosage
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Chloramphenicol / therapeutic use
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Clostridium Infections / drug therapy
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Clostridium Infections / microbiology
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Clostridium Infections / veterinary*
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Corneal Ulcer / drug therapy
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Corneal Ulcer / microbiology
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Corneal Ulcer / veterinary*
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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Enterobacter cloacae / isolation & purification
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
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Enterobacteriaceae Infections / veterinary
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Eye Foreign Bodies / complications
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Eye Infections, Bacterial / drug therapy
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Eye Infections, Bacterial / microbiology
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Eye Infections, Bacterial / veterinary*
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Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
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Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / veterinary
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Horse Diseases* / drug therapy
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Horse Diseases* / etiology
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Horse Diseases* / microbiology
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Horses
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Insecta
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Ointments
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Ophthalmic Solutions
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Penicillins / administration & dosage
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Penicillins / therapeutic use
Substances
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Ointments
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Ophthalmic Solutions
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Penicillins
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Chloramphenicol