Onchocerca lupi causing ocular disease in two cats

Abstract

Although canine ocular onchocerciasis has been well described as an emerging pathogen of dogs in Europe and North America over the past 20years, there are no previous reports of feline ocular onchocerciasis. This report details the clinical, histopathologic, and molecular diagnosis of two domestic short hair cats residing in the United States infected with Onchocerca lupi causing episcleritis and orbital cellulitis. The results of this report suggest that O. lupi is a newly recognized disease of domestic cats. © 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.