Infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis and kerato-conjunctivitis in cats Part 1: viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and protozoan diseases

Infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, and kerato-conjunctivitis represent the most common ocular surface abnormalities in cats. These pathologies exhibit distinct yet frequently overlapping clinical manifestations, making the clinical differential diagnosis challenging. In instances where a precise etiological diagnosis is lacking, establishing an effective therapeutic protocol becomes intricate. The aim of the of the first part of this article is to examine the etiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis associated with viral, bacterial, mycotic, parasitic, and protoìan infectious forms that can induce conjunctival, corneal or corneo-conjunctival abnormalities in cats. Notably, feline herpesvirus type 1 has been excludedfrom this first part as it is specifically addressed in the second part of this review.