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Table 1 Key clinical observations, culturing results, topical and systemic treatments in four cases of equine keratitis

From: Listeria monocytogenes associated kerato-conjunctivitis in four horses in Norway

Case No

Day after initial examination

Clinical diagnoses

Bacterial growth after culturinga

Topical medication (frequency)b

Systemic medication (days)

1

1

Conjunctivitis, moderate central superficial keratitis1

Micrococcus spp.—moderate

L. monocytogenes—sparse

Chloramphenicol (TID – QID)

–

15

Unchanged1

L. monocytogenes—sparse

Ampicillin, Gentamicin (QID) Diclofenac (QID)

Procaine penicillin, Gentamicin (5 days)

55

No symptoms2

 

–

–

69

Conjunctivitis, moderate central superficial keratitis1

Normal flora dominated by Micrococcus spp. and L. monocytogenes

Ciprofloxacin (QID) Diclofenac (QID)

–

114

Unchanged1

L. monocytogenes abundant before scraping/very sparse after

Penicillin-Na, Gentamicin (CF)

Procaine penicillin (10 days)

Vedaprofen (X days)

128

Central superficial keratitis improved1

No listerial growth (selective enrichment)

Gentamicin (CF)

–

140

Conjunctivitis, moderate central superficial keratitis1

 

Penicillin-Na, Gentamicin (CF)

–

150 (released against medical advice)

central superficial keratitis improved1

 

Oxytetracyclin - PolymyxinB (TID)

–

178 (euthanized—unrelated reason)

Unchanged2

   

2

1

Conjunctivitis, mild–moderate central superficial keratitis1

L. monocytogenes—sparse

Oxytetracyclin - PolymyxinB (QID ), Idoxuridine (QID), Diclofenac (TID)

–

12

Mild keratitis1

 

Oxytetracyclin - PolymyxinB (QID 7 days), Idoxuridine (QID–7 days)

–

29

Conjunctivitis, mild–moderate central superficial keratitis, mild anterior uveitis1

L. monocytogenes—moderate (pure culture)

Oxytetracyclin - PolymyxinB (QID), Atropin (1 single drop), Idoxuridine QID, Diclofenac TID

–

45

No symptoms2

 

–

–

76

Conjunctivitis, mild–moderate central superficial keratitis1

 

Ciprofloxacin (QID 28 days )

–

2200

No further symptoms2

  

–

3

1

Conjunctivitis, mild central superficial keratitis1

L. monocytogenes—moderate (pure culture)

Ciprofloxacin (QID) Diclofenac (BID-TID)

–  

30

Conjunctivitis2

 

Ciprofloxacin (QID)

–

44

None2

 

–

–

48

Conjunctivitis, mild central superficial keratitis1

L. monocytogenes—sparse (pure culture)

Chloramphenicol (Eyedrops 5x/day

Ointment at night 42 days)

–

90

None2

   

104

Conjunctivitis, mild–moderate central superficial keratitis1

L. monocytogenes—very sparse (pure culture)

Chloramphenicol (CF)

Procaine penicillin (10 days)

118

Mild keratitis1

 

Chloramphenicol (QID – ointment 14 days)

–

162

No symptoms2

   

4

1

Mild central superficial keratitis1

 

Neomycin - Polymyxin B-Dexamethasone (TID 14 days)

–

16

Conjunctivitis2

 

Dexamethasone (TID)

–

28

Conjunctivitis, mild–moderate central superficial keratitis (ulcerative), mild anterior uveitis1

Sparse, mixed bacterial growth dominated by L. monocytogenes

Oxytetracyclin-PolymyxinB (TID 5 days) Atropin (1 single drop)

Oxytetracyclin - PolymyxinB (TID 7 days)

Flunixin (5 days)

45

None1

No bacterial growth

  

160

No symptoms2

   
  1. Treatment prior to referral and short term medications awaiting culture results not included in the table. 1 Veterinary diagnoses, 2 Owner observation
  2. italic treatment outside clinic, BID treatment twice daily, TID treatment 3 times daily, QID treatment 4 times daily, CF continuous flow via subpalpebral lavage system, underlined: antibiotic treatments
  3. aTypically 3–5 days after sampling
  4. bTopical antibiotics initiated after received culture report