Nutritionally variant streptococci associated with corneal ulcers in horses: 35 cases (1982-1988)

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 197; no. 5; p. 624
• Main Authors: Da Silva Curiel, J.M.A. (University of Missouri, Columbia, MO), Murphy, C.J, Jang, S.S, Bellhorn, R.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.1990
• Subjects: ALDEHIDOS; ALDEHYDE; ALDEHYDES; Animals; BESOIN NUTRITIONNEL; CABALLOS; CALIFORNIA; CALIFORNIE; CASE STUDIES; CHEVAL; Corneal Ulcer - microbiology; Corneal Ulcer - veterinary; DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES; ENFERMEDADES (OJOS); ENFERMEDADES (SISTEMA DIGESTIVO); ESTUDIOS DE CASOS PRACTICOS; ETUDE DE CAS; EYE DISEASES; Eye Infections, Bacterial - microbiology; Eye Infections, Bacterial - veterinary; EYES; Female; Horse Diseases - microbiology; HORSES; INCIDENCE; MALADIE DE L'APPAREIL DIGESTIF; MALADIE DE L'OEIL; Male; NECESIDADES DE NUTRIENTES; NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS; OEIL; OJOS; PYRIDOXAL; Retrospective Studies; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcal Infections - veterinary; STREPTOCOCCUS; Streptococcus - growth & development
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1990.197.05.624

Nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS) are nutritionally deficient viridans streptococci that require pyridoxal for growth. Although NVS are pathogenic in human beings, they have not been considered to be pathogenic in domestic animals. In 1982 and 1983, 24 isolates of NVS were recovered from horses with ulcerative keratitis. A retrospective study was done to determine the incidence of NVS in horses with corneal disease. The medical records of 249 horses (259 eyes) examined for clinical signs of corneal disease were reviewed. Nutritionally variant streptococci were isolated from approximately 13.5% of horses with ulcerative keratitis.