Intraocular silicone prosthesis implantation in eyes of dogs and a cat with intraocular neoplasia: nine cases (1983-1994).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome of implantation of an intraocular silicone prosthesis (ISP) in the eyes of dogs and cats with intraocular neoplasia. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Eight dogs and 1 cat with histologically confirmed intraocular neoplasia. PROCEDURE: Signalment, clinical signs before and after surgery, results of microscopic examination of eviscerated intraocular tissues, follow-up information, and necropsy findings, if available, were recorded for each animal. RESULTS: Five dogs and 1 cat had primary intraocular neoplasms. Two of the dogs developed regrowth of the neoplasm around the ISP 6 to 24 months after implantation, and the eyes were enucleated. The cat developed signs compatible with systemic metastasis 4 years after surgery and was euthanatized. Three dogs had multicentric or metastatic neoplasia involving the eye. Two of these dogs were euthanatized because of their systemic disease 1.5 to 7 months after ISP implantation. The third dog is alive without evidence of regrowth 3 years after surgery. CLINICAL IMPLICATION: Intraocular neoplasia is not an absolute contraindication to ISP implantation.

Use of laser flaremetry to measure aqueous humor protein concentration in dogs.

The blood-aqueous barrier in dogs is compromised by uveitis, surgery, and limbal paracentesis. Breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier allows protein into the aqueous humor and results in mild to severe inflammation. Diagnosis of protein in the aqueous humor is traditionally a subjective measurement. Laser flaremetry was used for noninvasive quantitation of aqueous humor protein concentration in dogs. Flaremetry data were compared with aqueous humor protein concentrations obtained from aqueous humor paracentesis and slit-lamp flare evaluations. Results from clinically normal eyes and those with uveitis and cataracts were compared. Subjective evaluations of flare were correlated with a range of flaremetry readings and aqueous humor protein concentrations. Clinically normal eyes had a range of flaremetry readings of 1.4 to 7.0 photon counts (PC)/ms, with a mean of 3.8 PC/ms. Corresponding aqueous humor protein concentrations ranged from 5 to 28 mg/dl, with a mean of 15.1 mg/dl. Eyes with uveitis or cataracts had a range of aqueous protein concentrations of 13 to 729 mg/dl. Flaremetry readings accurately and sensitively measured total protein concentrations in the aqueous humor of dogs.

Lymphoplasmacytic keratitis in a ferret with lymphoma.

Unilateral lymphoplasmacytic keratitis was believed to be associated with multicentric lymphoma in a ferret. Plasmacytosis (Aleutian disease) should be considered in any ferret with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of any organ. Ferrets with antibodies to the parvovirus causing plasmacytosis are believed to be more susceptible to concurrent disease because of immunosuppression.

Analysis of cat retina for dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-methoxytyramine and homovanillic acid.

Twenty retinas from 10 cats were evaluated for dopamine (DA) and its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) and homovanillic acid (HVA) by high pressure liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. Dopamine was present in all 20 retinas at a mean concentration of 3.00 +/- 0.54 ng/mg protein. Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-MT and HVA were detected in 16, 14 and 9 retinas respectively. In retinas in which these metabolites were detectable, they were present in the following mean concentrations: DOPAC, 1.07 +/- 0.21 ng/mg protein; 3-MT, 3.44 +/- 0.97 ng/mg protein and HVA, 4.54 +/- 1.05 ng/mg protein. Significantly higher concentrations of 3-MT (p = 0.0108, paired t test) and HVA (p = 0.0166, paired t test) than DOPAC were present in cat retina. Linear correlation analysis between DA and its metabolites indicated that the 3-MT and DOPAC concentrations correlated well with each other and with the amount of DA in cat retina. The concentrations of the end product metabolite, HVA, had poor correlations with the concentrations of 3-MT, DOPAC or DA. These data indicated that once DA is released in cat retina it can be metabolized to 3-MT, DOPAC and HVA.