ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The identification of ophthalmic diseases that affect vision and/or cause discomfort should be a priority in captive penguins to improve their overall health and quality of life. METHODS: A routine ophthalmological examination was performed on 80 clinically normal penguins (160 eyes), and any lesions observed were recorded. RESULTS: Ocular lesions were frequent (56% of penguins), with cataracts being the most common (48.8% of penguins). Cortical cataracts (63% of eyes) and posterior subcapsular cataracts (27.4%) were the most commonly occurring. All maturation stages were found; incipient cataracts (52.1% of eyes with cataracts) were predominant, while Morgagnian cataracts (8.2%) were the least frequent. A correlation existed between lenticular changes and increasing age. Uveitis was present in 43.8% of eyes with cataracts, and ectropion uveae was the predominant clinical sign. Other ocular findings included blepharitis (3.8% of all eyes), corneal leukoma (5.6%) and posterior lens subluxation (7.5%). LIMITATIONS: The small number of birds of some species prevented the comparison of ophthalmic findings between species. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates the high prevalence of ocular lesions in captive penguins. Cataracts were frequent and age related. Most cataracts were cortical, and the predominant maturation stage was incipient. Lens-induced uveitis was a common finding. Lowered intraocular pressure was related to cataract formation.
Subject(s)
Cataract , Spheniscidae , Uveitis , Animals , Quality of Life , Cataract/veterinary , Cataract/pathology , Eye , Uveitis/veterinaryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Determine morphological and morphometric parameters of corneal epithelium in dogs, and determine the cellular alterations that occur in canine keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) using impression cytology. STUDY ANIMALS: 60 dogs divided into two groups: dogs with Schirmer tear test (STT) at least 15 mm/minute and absence of ocular disease, and dogs with STT less than 15 mm/minute and clinical signs of KCS. PROCEDURES: Impression cytology was used to collect corneal samples. The percentage of eyes with cell changes, the number of such cells and the percentage of cells with structural alterations in each group were determined. The possible correlation between corneal epithelium alterations and decreased tear production was evaluated. RESULTS: A significant positive correlation existed between STT and the area of the cytoplasm and nucleus of corneal cells. A significant negative correlation was found between STT ââand the nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, and the presence of cellular changes. A significant difference existed between the numbers of pyknotic nuclei, being higher among animals with all stages of KCS. CONCLUSION: Corneal impression cytology can be used to assess the corneal epithelium in healthy eyes and eyes with KCS, demonstrating its usefulness as a diagnostic tool especially in mild and early cases.
Subject(s)
Cornea/cytology , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/veterinary , Animals , Dogs , Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca/diagnosisABSTRACT
To establish reference standards for ocular ultrasound and biometry, 24 cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) (45 eyes) underwent B-mode and A-mode ultrasonographic examination using a 12.5-MHz probe. The vultures were manually restrained without sedation, and the eyes were topically anesthetized. Biometry was performed in the sagittal plane for axial length of the globe (AGL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), and vitreous chamber depth (VCD). Biometry of the pecten oculi (LP) was measured on images of transversal scan at 9 hours. Biometric findings were as follows: AGL=27.74 ± 0.77 mm, ACD=3.73 ± 0.62 mm, LT=5.41 ± 0.18 mm, VCD=18.60 ± 0.58 mm, and LP=10.21 ± 1.19 mm. No correlation was found between body weight and AGL. Right and left globe sizes were not significantly different, but AGL and VCD were significantly longer (P < .05) in male than in female vultures. Including diagnostic protocols such as ocular ultrasound may improve the ophthalmologic care of endangered raptors injured by blunt trauma, when opacities of the ocular media prevent examination of the internal ocular structures.
Subject(s)
Eye/anatomy & histology , Eye/diagnostic imaging , Falconiformes/anatomy & histology , Animals , Biometry , Female , Male , Reference Standards , Ultrasonography/veterinaryABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report a case of canine atypical chorioretinal coloboma where ophthalmoscopic, fluoroangiographic and optical coherence tomography characteristics are described. ANIMAL STUDIED: A 2-year-old Golden Retriever dog in which routine ophthalmoscopic examination allowed diagnosis of a posterior coloboma on the left eye. PROCEDURES: Retinography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography were performed to characterize the lesion of the left fundus. RESULTS: Ophthalmoscopy revealed a pigmented circumscribed lesion dorsal to the optic nerve of the left fundus, surrounded by small areas of hyper-reflectivity and retinal vessels with an abnormal pattern. Fluoroangiography revealed a constant hypofluorescence of the defect and a complete altered vascular pattern associated with the coloboma. Optical coherence study demonstrated an important craterlike depression showing an atrophic neurosensory retina, and a lack of retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Fluoroangiographic and optical coherence tomographic studies of an atypical chorioretinal coloboma in a dog are reported for the first time. Both imaging techniques are of great importance to characterize this type of congenital defects.
Subject(s)
Coloboma/veterinary , Dog Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Animals , Choroid , Coloboma/diagnostic imaging , Dogs , Fluorescein Angiography/veterinary , Fundus Oculi , Tomography, Optical Coherence/veterinaryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the central corneal thickness (CCT) by ultrasonic pachymetry and the effect of these values on the measurements of intraocular pressures (IOP) with rebound tonometry (TonoVet(®) ) in a captive flock of black-footed penguins (Spheniscus dermersus). Variations in CCT by age and weight, and variations in IOP by age were compared. ANIMAL STUDIED: Both eyes of 18 clinically normal black-footed penguins (Spheniscus dermersus) were used. PROCEDURE: The IOP was measured by the TonoVet(®) in both eyes of all the penguins. CTT measurements were performed 5 min later in all eyes using an ultrasound pachymeter. RESULTS: The mean IOP values ± SD were 31.77 ± 3.3 mm Hg (range of mean value: 24-38). The mean CCT values were 384.08 ± 30.9 µm (range of mean value: 319-454). There was no correlation between IOP and CCT values (P = 0.125). There was no difference in CCT measurements by age (P = 0.122) or weight (P = 0.779). A correlation was observed (P = 0.032) between IOP values and age. The coefficient of correlation was negative (ρ = -0.207). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound pachymetry has shown to be a reliable and easy technique to measure CCT in penguins. No correlation was observed between IOP and CCT values in this study. IOP showed a significant but weak decrease as age increased in the black-footed penguin.
Subject(s)
Eye/anatomy & histology , Intraocular Pressure/physiology , Spheniscidae/anatomy & histology , Spheniscidae/physiology , Animals , Animals, ZooABSTRACT
An 8-year-old female adult reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of Madrid for evaluation of a conjunctival mass on the left eye which had been present for about 2 months. A surgical excision was performed and biopsy material submitted for light microscopic evaluation which confirmed the diagnosis of conjuctival squamous cell carcinoma. Nuclear p53 immunolabeling was found in 52% of the neoplastic cells. Follow-up examination at 12 months postsurgery did not reveal recurrence of this neoplasm. Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma has not been reported previously in reindeer and seems to have similar characteristics to the one existing in bovine species.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/veterinary , Conjunctival Neoplasms/veterinary , Reindeer , Animals , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Conjunctival Neoplasms/pathology , FemaleABSTRACT
Likely because of trauma, an adult alpaca (Lama pacos) sustained a corneal perforation with a prolapsed iris. Because of the severity of the lesion, a pedicle conjunctival graft was performed. The structural integrity of the cornea was reestablished, and 10 mo postoperatively, the affected eye appeared to have good vision and only a small corneal scar remained.