A retrospective study of the occurrence of chronic superficial keratitis in 308 German Shepherd dogs: 1999-2010.

Chronic Superficial Keratitis (CSK) is an autoimmune mediated inflammation of the cornea, that is usually bilateral but often with nonsymmetrical manifestation. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and appearance of clinical symptoms of CSK in German Shepherd dogs in Poland and Slovakia. CSK was diagnosed in 308 German Shepherds for a period of 11 years (from 1999 to 2010). The highest incidence of the CSK (p < 0.001) in Slovakia and in Poland was in dogs between the ages of 5-8 years. This study found similarity in gender ratio of affected patients with CSK in two neighboring countries. This disease occurs most often in males, with almost identical frequency in both countries, Slovakia 65.63% and Poland 61.32%, respectively. The incidence of depigmentation and thickening of the external surface of the third eyelid together with CSK was observed in 69.19% of dogs in Poland and in 63.15% of dogs in Slovakia. CSK is often recognized in advanced stage-affected areas with inflammatory process by CSK, obtained frequently from 2 to 3 quadrants.

Chlamydophila felis in cats--are the stray cats dangerous source of infection?

Chlamydophila felis is a causative agent of acute or chronic conjunctivitis, and pneumonia in cats. Natural transmission mostly occurs consequently to close contact with other infected cats, their aerosol and fomites. We have examined 93 cats with symptoms of acute or chronic conjunctivitis, from Kosice region in Slovakia, during the period of 2 years. Conjunctival samples were obtained from 55 domestic cats (59.14%) and 38 stray cats (40.86%). Of the total number of 93 examined animals, 42 cats were positive, which represents 45.16% overall positivity. Out of the 42 positive cats, 25 cats were stray and 17 positive cats were classified as domestic, which means that of 38 stray cats, 25 were positive (which represented 65.78% positivity) and of 55 domestic cats, 17 were positive (positivity was 30.90%). Our results showed that cats, especially stray cats, could be a dangerous source of chlamydiosis for humans.