Retinopatia em felinos associada ao uso de enrofloxacina

Abstract

Enrofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug in animals. In felines, retinal degeneration can occur due to increased dosage, frequency of administration or rapid infusion, combined with a lack of understanding of side effects. This degeneration caused by enrofloxacin treatment manifests as acute blindness and is usually irreversible. Although the pathophysiology of this process remains unclear, there are some possible hypotheses, such as the lack of the ABCG2 protein in the cat's blood-retinal barrier, allowing accumulation of the drug in the retina and subsequent changes. The most common clinical symptoms include mydriasis with absence of pupillary reflexes, reluctance to walk or jump, tapetal hyperreflexia and retinal vascular attenuation. Diagnosis can be made by ophthalmological examination, such as direct ophthalmoscopy with analysis of patterns of changes in the fundus of the eye and electroretinography, which provides data captured from photoreceptors, confirming the animal's blindness. Since there is no cure, prevention is the best option to avoid retinal degeneration in cats. This literature review aims to deepen the understanding and investigate the relationship between the use of enrofloxacin and retinal degeneration in cats.