Ocular manifestations of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in dogs

J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1989 Mar 15;194(6):777-81.

Abstract

Dogs were examined ophthalmoscopically to determine the prevalence and type of ocular lesions associated with naturally acquired Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). In a consecutive series of 11 dogs with serologically confirmed RMSF, 9 had ocular involvement reflecting various degrees of vascular damage, including subconjunctival hemorrhage, hyphema, anterior uveitis, iris stromal hemorrhage, retinal petechiae, and focal areas of retinal edema and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltrate. The ophthalmic lesions generally were mild, and most resolved without complication after systemic administration of appropriate antibiotics. The high prevalence of ocular lesions in these dogs suggested that critical ophthalmologic evaluation is a useful diagnostic tool for the early detection and management of RMSF in dogs.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Dog Diseases*
  • Dogs
  • Eye / blood supply
  • Eye Diseases / diagnosis
  • Eye Diseases / etiology
  • Eye Diseases / veterinary*
  • Rickettsia rickettsii / immunology
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / complications
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / diagnosis
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / veterinary*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial