Arthritis, panuveitis and hyperaesthesia associatedwith Borrelia afzelii infection in a warmblood gelding

摘要

A 13-year-old warmblood gelding presented witha history of lameness, muscle atrophy and weightloss of 3months. The horse demonstrated extensivehyperaesthesia over the left dorsal trunk, marked effusionof several joints, laryngitis and a dampened mentalattitude. Synovial fluid analysis revealed arthritis of theleft tarsocrural joint, being PCR-positive for Borreliaafzelii DNA. Subsequently, mild anterior uveitis of theright and severe panuveitis of the left eye with B. afzeliiPCR-positive aqueous and vitreous humour, respectively,were diagnosed. Treatment included arthroscopy of theleft tarsocrural joint, oral doxycycline administration for6weeks, ophthalmic and systemic anti-inflammatorytherapy and left intravitreal preservative-free gentamicin(4mg) injection. After initial improvement, the gelding’sclinical signs deteriorated resulting in peracuterecumbency and sudden death 12 months later. Lymeborreliosis should be considered as differential diagnosisin complex cases of equine lameness, particularly whenaccompanied by hyperaesthesia and bilateral uveitis.