Prevalence and Characteristics of Feline Ulcerative Keratitis and Corneal Sequestra in a Referral Population and Comparison Between Brachycephalic and Nonbrachycephalic Cats.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of feline ulcerative keratitis (UK) and corneal sequestra (CS) in brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic breeds.

Animals studied: Brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic cats.

Procedures: Cats diagnosed with UK or CS (Total, 392; UK, 290; CS, 102), between 2013 and 2022, were included. Collected data included signalment, affected eye, lesion characteristics, predisposing factors, and treatment type. UK was classified as superficial (grade 1), stromal (grade 2), or descemetoceles and perforations (grade 3). Sequestra received grade CS or CS_i when associated without or with infectious keratitis, respectively. Disease prevalence and collected data were compared between normocephalic and brachycephalic cats.

Results: Prevalence of UK was 15% (218/1418) in nonbrachycephalics and 36% (72/202) in brachycephalics (p < .001). No significant differences were noted in the prevalence of grades 2 and 3 between brachycephalics and nonbrachycephalics. Brachycephalics were more affected by central/paracentral corneal ulcers (p = .001) or sequestra (p < .001). Corneal vascularization was more frequent in nonbrachycephalics in both UK (non-BC, 67%; BC: 57%) and CS (non-BC, 74%; BC; 52%) groups. Keratoplasty was more frequently conducted in brachycephalics (p < .001). Overall, 38/286 nonbrachycephalic eyes and 3/128 brachycephalic eyes with UK or CS underwent entropion surgery (p = .002).

Conclusion: Brachycephalic cats were more affected by UK and CS. Stromal and perforated corneal ulcers were not more frequent in brachycephalics, but corneal lesions were centrally located and less frequently associated with corneal vascularization than in nonbrachycephalics. An inferotemporal entropion was more often associated with UK or CS in nonbrachycephalics.