Clinical & Field Article | Veterinary Surgery and Radiology

Surgical Management of Ocular Setariasis due to Ectopic Parasitism caused by Setariadigitata in a Horse (Equuscaballus)

Division of Surgery, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Ocular setariosis is one of the common causes of visual impairment in equines. It is mainly caused by the filaroid worm Setariadigitata which infects the anterior chamber of the eyes. A 4-year-old male crossbredhorse was presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex ( TVCC ) -Referral Veterinary Polyclinic ( RVP ) , ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar with the history of impaired vision, lacrimation, and progressively developed corneal opacity in the left eyes noticed in the past 14 days. On general clinical examination, the horse exhibited excessive lacrimation, blepharospasm, conjunctivitis, and photophobia. Detailed examination revealed the presence of a moving thread-like worm in the aqueous humor of the left eye anterior chamber. The worm was retrieved using needle paracentesis at the 3Oclock position 1 millimeter away from the limbus after restraining the animal under regional anaesthesia. Subsequently, the retrieved worm was morphologically identi ed as male Setariadigitata, further confirming the diagnosis of equine ocular setariosis. An eventual recovery was noticed in the horse following surgical interventions and vision in the affected eye was re-established within 14 days of the treatment.

Main Article