Florida keratopathy

Florida keratopathy (Florida spots) is an eye condition characterized by the presence of multiple spots within both corneas. It is most commonly seen in dogs and cats, but is also rarely seen in horses and birds. In the United States, Florida keratopathy is found in animals in the southeastern part of the country. In other parts of the world it is confined to tropics and subtropics, and it is known as tropical keratopathy. [cite web | last = Roze | first = Maurice | title = Corneal Diseases in Cats | work = Proceedings of the 30th World Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association | date = 2005 | url = http://www.vin.com/proceedings/Proceedings.plx?CID=WSAVA2005&PID=11175&O=Generic | accessdate = 2007-03-23 ]

Florida keratopathy appears as multiple cloudy opacities in the stromal layer of the cornea. The spots appear concentrated at the center and become more diffuse at the periphery. They can range in size from one to eight millimeters.cite book|author=Gelatt, Kirk N. (ed.)|title=Veterinary Ophthalmology|edition=3rd ed.|publisher=Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins|year=1999|id=ISBN 0-683-30076-8] There are no other symptoms, and there is no response to treatment with either anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial drugs. Histological analysis of affected corneas has found acid-fast staining organisms, suggesting Florida keratopathy may be caused by a type of mycobacterium.

There is a strong suspicion that it is induced by repeated stings of "Wasmannia auropunctata" to the eyes, the Little Fire Ant, an invasive specie. [cite web | last = Theron | first = Leonard | title = "Wasmannia auropunctata" linked keratopathy Hypothesis - The Polynesian Case | work = DVM Master | date = 2005 | url = http://1000gp.ovh.net/~pfftahit/spip/spip.php?article86 | accessdate = 2008-07-18 ]

References