Uveodermatologic syndrome in a rat terrier.

A 4 yr old intact male rat terrier presented with severe bilateral nonresponsive panuveitis. Bilateral uveitis, blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, diffuse corneal edema, peripheral bullous retinal detachment, and secondary ocular hypertension were noted. Ocular lesions progressed despite aggressive medical treatment and were followed by cutaneous depigmentation and crusting along the nasal planum. Intensive oral and topical anti-inflammatory and topical antiglaucoma medications were administered, but the ocular disease progressed. A bilateral enucleation was performed. Uveodermatologic syndrome was diagnosed from histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy as well as histopathology of both globes after bilateral enucleation. To maintain control of the dermatologic lesions, oral azathioprine was initiated, but it was not well tolerated by this patient. Immunosuppressive doses of oral cyclosporine and anti-inflammatory doses of oral prednisone were used to control the depigmentation and crusting skin lesions.

Ocular parameters in a captive colony of fruit bats.

OBJECTIVES: To establish normal reference ranges of ocular parameters including phenol read thread, palpebral fissure length, horizontal and vertical corneal diameter, upright and hanging intraocular pressure (IOP) and to report ophthalmic examination findings of the anterior segment and lens, in a population of captive fruit bats. ANIMALS STUDIED: Eyes of 30 bats of three species were included in this study: 10 (5 males, 5 females) Malayan Flying Foxes (Pteropus vampyrus), 10 (5 males, 5 females) Little Golden-mantled Flying Foxes (Pteropus pumilus), and 10 (4 males, 6 females) Island Flying Foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus). RESULTS: The most common ophthalmic examination findings included iris-iris persistent pupillary membranes (83%), nuclear sclerosis (56.7%), prominent arterial circle (40%), iridal hyperpigmented foci (30%), pupillary margin cysts (27%), and third eyelid defects (20%). The mean, among all species for: phenol red thread was 20.23 ± 1.28 mm/15 s both eyes (OU); palpebral fissure length was 13.34 ± 0.33 mm for OU; for horizontal corneal diameter was 10.72 ± 0.32 mm for OU; for vertical corneal diameter was 9.90 ± 0.30 mm for OU; for the hanging intraocular pressures was 19.38 ± 0.77 mmHg for OU; for upright IOP was 13.95 ± 0.60 mmHg for OU. Measurements for the individual species groups and eyes were also calculated. CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed the IOP of bats in a hanging position were significantly higher than the IOP of bats in an upright position. The size of the bat, between the species, affected palpebral fissure length, horizontal corneal diameter, and vertical corneal diameter. Information about the ocular structures and normal ophthalmic parameters for the Pteropus species is crucial for species protection because of dependence on vision for survival.

Iris abscesses with and without intralenticular fungal invasion in the horse.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical and histologic findings in horses with iris abscesses. Design Retrospective medical records study. ANIMALS STUDIED: Medical records of horses that had iris abscesses at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center, Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, and Veterinary Eye Specialists of London, Ontario, from 2005 to 2008 were reviewed. PROCEDURE: Data collected from the medical records included signalment, clinical and histologic descriptions of ocular lesions, therapy, complications, and visual outcomes. RESULTS: The medical records of two Quarterhorses, one pony, one warmblood, one Westphalian, and one Arab horse with unilateral iris abscesses were identified. Mild-to-severe clinical signs of iridocyclitis were present in all six eyes with iris abscesses. The eyes of two horses with iris abscesses were also associated with deep stromal abscesses and responded to medical therapy alone in one case, and medical therapy and corneal transplantation in the other. Iris abscesses in two horses were also associated with intralenticular invasion due to a Cladosporium and a Fusarium-type fungus respectively, and resulted in enucleations. Two horses with iris abscesses and no apparent lens involvement resolved with medical therapy in one case and surgical removal of the iris abscess and medical therapy in the other. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first clinical report of iris abscesses in the horse, and the first histologic report of fungal invasion of the horse lens.