Study: Parasite Causes Reversible Blindness in Horses

Scientists recently reported on cases of parasitic worms living in Korean horses’ eyes, triggering immune responses that lead to a cloudy cornea and ultimately total–but reversible– blindness.
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parasite causes reversible blindness in horses
The longer the worm stays in the eye, the more the eye becomes clouded, eventually leading to total blindness. | Photo: iStock

Warning. This article isn’t for faint-of-heart horse people.

It’s a tale of wriggling worm tails … in horses’ eyeballs. No, not a horror story. This is a true case of parasitic worms living in horses’ eyes, swimming around in a clouded cornea and often visible from the outside. Measuring more than a centimeter in length (and sometimes up to 5 or 6) as adults, they trigger immune responses that lead to total blindness in horses.

Fortunately, however, if caught early, removal of the worm followed by corticosteroid treatment restores the eye back to full health, said SungShik Shin, DVM, PhD, a professor in the division of parasitology at Chonnam National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Gwangju, South Korea

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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