Optic Neuritis in Dogs and Cats

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2007.11.005

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice

Volume 38, Issue 2, March 2008, Pages 403-415

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2007.11.005 Get rights and content

The term “optic neuritis” compromises all diseases of the optic nerve that cause primary demyelination and usually manifest themselves as a sudden visual field defect or total loss of vision in one or both eyes. As in man, the cause of optic neuritis is often difficult to determine in the living animal. Neurologic examination, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and laboratory tests can be normal. Optic neuritis affects dogs far more frequently than other animal species. This article examines the causes of immune-mediated optic neuritis and etiologic differentials in dogs and cats, with comparisons to human beings and laboratory animal models.

Section snippets

Immune Mediated Optic Neuritis in Companion Animals

As in man, the cause of optic neuritis is often difficult to determine in the living animal. Neurologic examination, CSF analysis, and laboratory tests are normal. Optic neuritis affects dogs far more frequently than other animal species.

Immune Mediated Optic Neuritis in Man

In man, immune mediated optic neuritis is described in connection with systemic immune mediated diseases, such as lupus erythematosus [76] and atopic dermatitis [77], and after systemic infections [78]. In the demyelinating neuropathies like multiple sclerosis [79], neuromyelitis optica [80], and hereditary Leber's disease [81] an immunologic component has long been suspected. In 2004, Lennon and colleagues [82] identified an IgG autoantibody in patients with neuromyelitis optica that binds

Laboratory Animal Models

Experimental optic neuritis was created in adult guinea pigs by immunization with an isogenic spinal cord emulsion. Fourteen days after inoculation the animals developed a retrobulbar optic neuritis or a neuroretinits. The histologic changes were monocuclear cell infiltrations in the brain and retrobulbar part of the optic nerve, and multiple foci of axial and periaxial demyelination. The eyes showed papilledema with marked swelling of the nerve fibers of the optic disc, but no inflammatory

Summary

Possible immune mediated causes for optic neuritis in dogs are GME, and infections with distemper and TBEV, and Ehrlichia canis in the chronic disease forms. The term “idiopathic immune mediated optic neuritis” is used for cases in which no etiologic diagnosis could be found and that responded to immunosuppressive therapy. In cats no etiologies for immune mediated optic neuritis or an idiopathic immune mediated optic neuritis are described.

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